Abstract
In eight groups of subjects operating various hand-held vibrating tools and aged from 30 to 59 years, the prevalence rates of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and numbness, pain, or stiffness in the upper and lower extremities were investigated. Hand-transmitted vibration levels (HTVLs) were measured on the back of the hand, by means of unidirectional (x-axis) vibration dosimeters, and the frequency-weighted acceleration levels [(Lh,w)eq,t] were determined as the vibration levels. The prevalence rates of VWF and numbness of the hands in these subjects were compared to the prevalence rates of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and numbness of the hands in 1027 males and 1301 females not occupationally exposed to vibration (age range: 30–59 years). It was observed that in subjects exposed to HTVLs of between 1.1 and 2.5 m/s2, the prevalence of VWF was between 0.0% and 4.8%. The prevalence of VWF reached 9.6% in a group of workers exposed to HTVLs of 2.7–5.1 tn/s2. The latter group showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of VWF compared to the 2.7% prevalence of RP in male subjects of the general population. The prevalence of VWF in female subjects exposed to vibration (4.3%) was not significantly different from the prevalence of RP in females of the general population (3.4%). The prevalence rates of numbness of the hands were in the range of 6.5%–30.4% in the exposed groups and in the range of 13.4%–29.5% in the general population. Among the subjective symptoms, only VWF showed a significant positive correlation with HTVLs (R 2 = 0.5, P < 0.05). It was concluded that in decisions concerning quantitative recommendations for vibration exposure, the prevalence of VWF should be employed. With a view to decreasing the risk of developing VWF, estimated vibration safety values for 4 h and 2 h daily exposures are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arbejdstilsynet (1990) Hand-arm vibration (in Danish). Atcirkulœreskrivelse
Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) (1986) Mechanical vibrations and shock — guide for the assessment of human exposure to vibration transmitted to upper limbs (NE-E-90-402). France
Bovenzi M, Franzinelli A, Strambi F (1988) Prevalence of vibration-induced white finger and assessment of vibration exposure among travertine workers in Italy. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 61:25–34
Bovenzi M, Petronio L, Marino F (1980) Epidemiological survey of shipyard workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 46:251–266
Brammer AJ, Taylor W, Lundborg G (1987) Sensorineural stages of the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health 13:279–283
British Standard Institution (1987) British Standard Guide to measurement and evaluation of human response to vibration transmitted to the hand (BS 6842). London
Futatsuka M, Ueno T (1986) A follow-up study of vibration-induced white finger due to chain saw operation. Scand J Work Environ Health 12:304–306
Futatsuka M, Yasutake N, Sakurai T, Matsumoto T (1985) Comparative study of vibration disease among operators of vibrating tools by factor analysis. Br J Ind Med 42:260–266
Gemne G, Lundström R, Hansson JE (1993) Disorders induced by work with hand-held vibrating tools (a review of current knowledge for criteria documentation). Arbete och Hälsa 6:1–83
Harada N, Ueda A, Takegata S (1991) Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in Japanese males and females. J Clin Epidemiol 44:649–655
Hellstrøm B, Anderson KL (1972) Vibration injuries in Norwegian forest workers. Br J Ind Med 29:255–263
Inaba R, Ariizumi M, Nohara S, Okada A (1989) Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in inhabitants in a mountain village in Hokuriku district (in Japanese with English abstract). Jpn J Health Human Ecol 6:281–285
International Organization for Standardization (1986) Mechanical vibration — guidelines for the measurement and assessment of human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (ISO 5349). Geneva
Iwata H (1991) Pathology and prevention of vibration syndrome (in Japanese). Jpn J Occup Health 374:9–12
Iwata H, Dupuis H, Hartung E (1972) Übertragung von horizontalen Sinusschwingungen auf die oberen Extremitäten bei Halbpronationsstellung und Reaktion des M. biceps (in German with English abstract). Int Arch Arbeitsmed 30:313–328
Iwata H, Makino S, Miyashita K (1987) Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in individuals not using vibrating tools (in Japanese with English abstract). Jpn J Ind Health 29:500–503
Klimkovà-Deutschovà E (1966) Neurologische Aspekte der Vibrationskrankheit. Int Arch Gewerbepat Gewerbehyg 22:297–305
Leppert J, Åberg H, Ringqvist I, Sörensson S (1987) Raynaud's phenomenon in female population: prevalence and association with other conditions. Angiology 38:871–877
Mirbod SM, Inaba R, Iwata H (1992) A study on the vibrationdose limit for Japanese workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Ind Health 30:1–22
Mirbod SM, Yoshida H, Nagata C, Inaba R, Komura Y, Iwata H (1992) Hand-arm vibration syndrome and its prevalence in the present status of private forestry enterprises in Japan. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 64:93–99
Miyashita K, Morioka I, Tanaba T, Iwata H, Takeda S (1992) Symptoms of construction workers exposed to whole body vibration and local vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 64:347–351
Saito K (1987) Prevention of the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health 13:301–304
Seppäläinen AM (1972) Peripheral neuropathy in forest workers: a field study. Work Environ Health 9:106–111
Silaman A, Holligan S, Brenon P, Maddison P (1990) Prevalence of symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon in general practice. Br Med J 301:590–592
Sörensson A, Lundström R (1992) Transmission of vibration to the hand. J Low Freq Noise Vib 11:14–22
Taylor W, Brammer AJ (1982) Introduction to proceedings of 3rd international conference on hand-arm vibration. In: Brammer AJ, Taylor W (eds) Vibration effects on the hand and arm in industry. Wiley, New York, pp 1–12
Taylor W, Pelmear PL (1975) Vibration white finger in industry. Academic, London
Thiede R, Miyashita K, Stelling J, Hartung E, Dupuis H (1993) Subjective vibration sensation under single- or multi-axial vibration exposure. In: Dupuis H, Christ E, Sandover J, Taylor W, Okada A (ds) Proceedings of the 6th international conference on hand-arm vibration. Druckzentrum Sutter, Essen, pp 451–460
Tokita Y, Okuma T (1990) Hand-arm transmitted vibration dosimeter. In: Okada A, Taylor W, Dupuis H (eds) Hand-arm vibration. Kyoei, Kanazawa, pp 53–57
Veiersted KB, Westgaard RH, Anderson P (1990) Pattern of muscle activity during stereotyped work and its relation to muscle pain. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 62:31–41
Walker DD, Jones B, Ogston S, Tasker EG, Robinson AJ (1985) A study of white forger in the gas industry. Br J Ind Med 42:672–677
Weinrich MC, Maricq HR, Keil JE, McGregor AR, Diat F (1990) Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in the adult population of South Carolina. J Clin Epidemiol 43:1343–1349
Xu Z, Ding HC, Ding MP, Liu JC, Wang H (1990) A study of dose-effect relationships for vibration-induced white finger. In: Okada A, Taylor W, Dupuis H (eds) Hand-arm vibration. Kyoei, Kanazawa, pp 305–308
Zeng-Shun Y, Hu C, Ling Q, De-Sheng Q, Ya-Hua Y (1986) Epidemiologic survey of vibration syndrome among riverters, chippers and grinders in the railroad system of the People's Republic of China. Scand J Work Environ Health 12:289–292
Zhou D, Chen L (1990) Research on the hygienic standard for hand-arm transmitted vibration in People's Republic of China. In: Okada A, Taylor W, Dupuis H (eds) Hand-arm vibration. Kyoei, Kanazawa, pp 309–311
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mohammad Mirbod, S., Yoshida, H., Komura, Y. et al. Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in different groups of workers operating hand-held vibrating tools. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 66, 13–22 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386574
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386574