Hand-arm vibration was measured on the handlebars of snowmobiles (N=23) and a postal inquiry was made among N=2705 reindeer herders (snowmobile drivers) in a study of vibration syndrome. Since many subjects had also used other vibrating tools the snowmobile group proper (N=334) was established and in this group 18% of the subjects reported having experienced white finger attacks and 48% numbness of the hands. The age-adjusted prevalence of white finger was more than three times higher in this snowmobile group proper than in the controls, and the association was not confounded by age or smoking. The finding was similar but weaker for numbness of the hands. The frequency-weighted acceleration of snowmobile vibration was 3.5 m/s2, and risk evaluation using the annex A of ISO 5349 standard predicted well the prevalence of white finger in the snowmobile group proper (17%). In conclusion, the present results indicate vibration syndrome as being also related to snowmobile vibration in reindeer herders.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PyykköI., KorhonenO., FärkkiläM., StarckJ., AatolaS., JänttiV.Vibration syndrome among Finnish forest workers, a follow-up from 1972 to 1983. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, 1986; 12:307–312.
2.
ChatterjeeD.J., PetrieA., TaylorW.Prevalence of vibration-induced white finger in fluorspar mines in Weardale. Br. J. Ind. Med. 1978; 35:208–218.
3.
BovenziM., FranzinelliA., StrambiF.Prevalence of vibration-induced white finger and assessment of vibration exposure among travertine workers in Italy. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 1988; 61:25–34.
4.
StarckJ., FärkkiläM., AatolaS., PyykköI., KorhonenO.Vibration syndrome and vibration in pedestal grinding. Br. J. Ind Med., 1983; 40:426–433.
5.
BovenziM., PetronionL., Di MarinoF.Epidemiological survey on shipyard workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 1980; 46:251–266.
6.
DandanellR., EngströmK.Vibration from riveting tools in the frequency range 6 Hz-10 MHz and Raynaud's phenomenon. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, 1986; 12:338–342.
7.
JorulfL.Vibration-induced effects caused by impact wrenches used in truck assembly. Scand J. Work Environ. Health, 1986; 12:269–271.
8.
BehrensV., TaylorW., WassermanD.E.Vibration syndrome in workers using pneumatic chipping and grinding took. In: BrammerA.J., TaylorW. (eds) Vibration effects on the hand and arm in industry. New York: Wiley and Sons; 1982:147–156.
9.
BentleyS., O'ConnorD., LordP., EdmondsO.Vibration white finger in motorcycle speedway riders. In: BrammerA J., TaylorW. (eds) Vibration effects on the hand and arm in industry. New York: Wiley and Sons; 1982:189–192.
10.
VirokannasH., HassiJ., AnttonenH., JärvenpääI.Symptoms and health hazards associated with the use of snowmobiles by reindeer herders. Arc. Med. Res., 1984; 38:20–26.
11.
GemneG., PyykköI., TaylorW., PelmearP.The Stockholm workshop scale for the classification of cold-induced Raynaud's phenomenon in the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand. J. Work. Environ. Health, 1987; 13–275–278.
12.
NäyhäS., VidemanT., LaaksoM., HassiJ.Prevalence of low back pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms and their association with work in Finnish reindeer herders. Scand. J. Rheumatol, 1991; 20:406–413.
13.
EngelmanL.Stepwise logistic regression. In: DixonW.J., ed. BMDP statistical software manual. Berkely: University of California Press; 1985, 330–344.
14.
International Organisation for Standardization. Mechanical vibration — Guidelines for the measurement and the assessment of human exposure to hand transmitted vibration. International Standard ISO 5349, Geneva 1986.
15.
International Organisation for Standardization. Principles for the measurement and the evaluation of human exposure to vibration transmitted to the hand Draft International Standard ISO/DIS 5349, Geneva1979.
16.
StarckJ.Characteristics of vibration, hand grip force and hearing loss in vibration syndrome. University of Kuopio, (Original reports 4/1984, natural sciences). Kuopio (Finland). 1984, 64 p.
17.
EkenvallL., LindbladL.Effect of tobacco use on vibration white finger disease. J. Occup. Med, 1989. 31:13–16.
18.
KoradeckaD.Peripheral blood circulation under the influence of occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration. In: WassermanD.E., TaylorW. (eds) Proceedings of the international occupations hand-arm vibration conference. Cincinatti, Ohio: NIOS; 1977, 21–36.
19.
VirokannasH., AnttonenH., NiskanenJ.Effects ofmultiexposures on the hands in snowmobile driving. In: ManninenO. (ed) Recent advances in researches on the combined effects of environmental factors. Tampere: PK-Paino oy; 1988, 591–604.
20.
SinghA.P., RaiR.M., BhatiaM.R., NayarH.S.Effect of chronic and acute exposure to noise on physiological functions in man. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health. 1982, 50–169–174.
21.
LundborgG., DahlinL., DanielsenN., HanssonH., NeckingL., PyykköI.Intraneural edema following exposure to vibration. Scand J. Work. Environ. Health. 1987, 13:326–329.
WieslanderG., NorbackD., GötheC-J., JuhlinL.Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and exposure to vibration, repetitive wrist movements, and heavy manual work: a case-referent study. Br. J. Ind. Med, 1989, 46:43–47.
24.
FärkkiläM., PyykköI., JänttiV., AatolaS., StarckJ., KorhonenO.Forestry workers exposed to vibration: a neurological study. Br. J. Ind. Med. 1988, 45:188–192.
25.
CannonL.J., BernackiE.J., WalterS.D.Personal and occupational factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Occup. Med., 1981, 23:255–258.
