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Massimo Bovenzi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A follow up study of vascular disorders in vibration-exposed Forestry Workers
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2008Co-Authors: Massimo BovenziAbstract:Objectives To investigate the occurrence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and the cold response of digital arteries in a group of Forestry Workers, most of whom had used anti-vibration (AV) chain saws solely. Methods One hundred and twenty-eight Forestry Workers underwent initially a medical examination and a standardized cold test with measurement of the change in finger systolic blood pressure after finger cooling from 30 to 10°C (FSBP%_10°). They were re-examined two or three times over the calendar period 1990–1999. Seventy-one Forestry Workers were active over the entire follow up period, while 57 retired after 1–8 years from the initial investigation. Results The initial prevalence and the cumulative incidence of VWF over the follow up period were 26.6 and 11.7%, respectively. In the retired Workers, the new cases of VWF occurred before their retirement, that is when they were still active. There were no significant changes in FSBP%_10° in the active Forestry Workers over the follow up period. A significant increased in FSBP%_10° (i.e. improvement) was observed in the retired Workers at the end of the follow up. FSBP%_10° at the cross-sectional investigation was significantly lower in the Forestry Workers who developed VWF during the follow up than in those who never experienced finger blanching over the study period. Conclusion The findings of this follow up study suggest that Forestry Workers with work experience limited to AV chain saws are still at risk of developing VWF. Cessation of vibration exposure in the retired Workers was associated with a beneficial effect on the cold response of digital arteries. Cold-induced digital arterial hyperresponsiveness at the initial investigation was a predictive factor for the onset of VWF over time.
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A follow up study of vascular disorders in vibration-exposed Forestry Workers.
International archives of occupational and environmental health, 2007Co-Authors: Massimo BovenziAbstract:Objectives To investigate the occurrence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and the cold response of digital arteries in a group of Forestry Workers, most of whom had used anti-vibration (AV) chain saws solely.
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Vibration-induced multifocal neuropathy in Forestry Workers: electrophysiological findings in relation to vibration exposure and finger circulation
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2000Co-Authors: Massimo Bovenzi, Franco Giannini, Simone RossiAbstract:Objectives: To investigate neural conduction in the upper limbs of symptomatic Forestry Workers with and without exposure to hand-transmitted vibration. A further aim was to assess the possible relationships between vibration exposure, nerve conduction and finger circulation in the Forestry Workers who used chain saws. Methods: A detailed neurophysiological investigation was performed on the upper extremities of 20 chain saw Workers, 20 Forestry operators with heavy manual work but without vibration exposure, and 20 healthy male controls. All subjects were screened to exclude polyneuropathy. Measurements of sensory and motor nerve conduction (velocity and amplitude) were obtained bilaterally from the median, ulnar and radial nerves. To assess peripheral vascular function, the Forestry Workers underwent a cold test with plethysmographic measurement of finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP). In the chain saw operators, vibration exposure was evaluated according to the International Standard ISO 5349. Indices of daily vibration exposure and lifetime cumulative vibration dose were estimated for each chain saw operator. Results: Sensory nerve conduction in several segments of the median and radial nerves was significantly reduced in the chain saw operators compared with that in the Workers doing heavy manual work and the controls. The neurophysiological pattern more frequently observed in the chain saw operators was a multifocal nerve conduction impairment to several neural segments with predominant involvement of sensory rather than motor fibres. Sensory nerve conduction velocities in the hands of the chain saw operators were inversely related to both daily and lifetime cumulative vibration exposures. In the vibration-exposed Forestry Workers, neither were sensori-motor complaints associated with vascular symptoms (finger whiteness) nor were electrophysiological data related to cold-induced changes in FSBP. Conclusions: Exposure to hand-transmitted vibration, in addition to ergonomic stress factors, can contribute to peripheral nerve disorders occurring in Forestry Workers who operate chain saws. The findings of this study suggest the existence of an exposure-effect relationship for vibration-induced neuropathy. Different underlying mechanisms are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of the neurological and vascular components of the hand-arm vibration syndrome.
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A prospective study of the cold response of digital vessels in Forestry Workers exposed to saw vibration.
International archives of occupational and environmental health, 1998Co-Authors: Massimo Bovenzi, M G Cannavà, R. Mancini, B. Alessandrini, L. CentiAbstract:Objectives: To investigate the occurrence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and the cold response of digital vessels in a group of 68 Forestry Workers who underwent a first clinical examination in 1990 and were then reexamined in 1995. Methods: The Forestry Workers were divided into three groups: group A (n = 27), active Workers who did not have VWF in␣1990 and continued to use chain saws; group B (n = 29), Workers who did not have VWF in 1990 and retired before 1995; and group C (n = 12), active or retired Workers who had VWF in 1990. The subjects underwent a medical interview, a complete physical examination, and a cold provocation test, which were performed by the same physicians at both surveys. The cold test consisted of measurement of the finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) after local cooling to 10 °C, expressed as a percentage of the pressure recorded at 30 °C (FSBP%10°). Results: Three new cases of VWF occurred during the follow-up period among Workers who had used only antivibration (AV) chain saws. The vasoconstrictor response to cold was unchanged in group A and improved in group B (P < 0.001). A significant decrease in VWF symptoms and abnormal response to cold was observed in group C (P < 0.05). As a result of preventive measures curtailing saw usage time in the VWF Workers, the daily vibration exposure in group C was lower in 1995 than in 1990 (P = 0.02). In the retired Workers, FSBP%10° was positively related to the time since the cessation of work with chain saws (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The findings of this follow-up study indicate that a reduction in or cessation of exposure to vibration has a beneficial effect on finger-blanching symptoms and the cold response of digital vessels. The occurrence of new cases of VWF in subjects whose work experience was limited to AV chain saws argues for the maintenance of health surveillance in these Workers.
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Exposure-response relationship for vibration-induced white finger among Forestry Workers.
Central European journal of public health, 1996Co-Authors: Massimo Bovenzi, A Franzinelli, M G Cannavà, M Maiorano, R. Mancini, Francesco CeccarelliAbstract:The relation between the occurrence of white finger and vibration exposure was investigated in a group of 222 Forestry Workers using chain saws. The Forestry Workers and 195 controls never exposed to hand-transmitted vibration were interviewed by occupational health physicians. The diagnosis of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) was made on the basis of subjective symptoms of finger blanching and the results of a cold test with plethysmographic measurement of finger systolic blood pressure. Vibration was measured on a representative sample of AV and non-AV chain saws. Daily vibration exposure was assessed in terms of 8 h energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration [A(8)]. A lifetime vibration dose was estimated for each of the Forestry Workers. The overall prevalence of VWF among the Forestry Workers was 23.4%. Raynaud's phenomenon was discovered in 2.6% of the controls. In the Forestry Workers, the risk of VWF showed positive increments with each increment of vibration dose, suggesting a monotonic dose-response relationship. The responsiveness to cold in the digital arteries of the Forestry Workers was also found to increase with increasing vibration dose. The estimated relation between VWF and vibration exposure showed that the expected occurrence of VWF increased in approximately linear proportion to either A(8) (with exposure duration unchanged) or the number of years of exposure (with equivalent acceleration unchanged). In this study of VWF among Forestry Workers the estimated exposure-response relation showed that if the magnitude of vibration acceleration is doubled, the total duration of exposure should be halved to produce an equivalent effect. On the basis of the assessment of vibration exposure, the estimated risk for VWF in the study population was found to be lower than that predicted by the International Standard ISO 5349. The results of this study tend to support the vibration exposure levels currently under discussion within the European Union.
Stephan Letzel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Biomonitoring and evaluation of permethrin uptake in Forestry Workers using permethrin-treated tick-proof pants.
Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2015Co-Authors: Bernd Roßbach, Peter Kegel, Heike Süß, Stephan LetzelAbstract:Biomonitoring and evaluation of permethrin uptake in Forestry Workers using permethrin-treated tick-proof pants
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Protective efficacy of permethrin-treated trousers against tick infestation in Forestry Workers
Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM, 2014Co-Authors: Bernd Roßbach, Peter Kegel, Ulrike Zier, Adrian Niemietz, Stephan LetzelAbstract:Introduction and objective. Prevention of tick borne diseases in Forestry Workers is essentially based on the use of appropriate clothing. The objective of this pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial was to assess the potential benefit of permethrin-treated working trousers for the prevention of tick infestation during Forestry work. Materials and methods. N=164 male Forestry Workers were equipped for a period of 16 weeks with permethrin-treated (intervention group – I) or untreated work trousers (control group – II). Subgroups, according to the use of trousers with (I-1, II-1) or without cut protection lining (I-2, II-2) were constituted. Tick infestation (quantity of ticks on the body surface) was assessed by questionnaire after 16 workdays. Control and intervention groups were compared by calculating the infestation rate (percentage of subjects with ticks) and the average number of ticks per workday. Results. The infestation rate was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (36.6 vs. 63.4%, p=0.001; Fisher-test). Further analysis revealed a significant reduction of tick infestation by permethrin treatment only for subjects wearing trousers without the cut protection lining (I-2: 34.2 vs. II-2: 80.0%, p
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protective efficacy of permethrin treated trousers against tick infestation in Forestry Workers
Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 2014Co-Authors: Bernd Rosbach, Peter Kegel, Ulrike Zier, Adrian Niemietz, Stephan LetzelAbstract:Introduction and objective. Prevention of tick borne diseases in Forestry Workers is essentially based on the use of appropriate clothing. The objective of this pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial was to assess the potential benefit of permethrin-treated working trousers for the prevention of tick infestation during Forestry work. Materials and methods. N=164 male Forestry Workers were equipped for a period of 16 weeks with permethrin-treated (intervention group – I) or untreated work trousers (control group – II). Subgroups, according to the use of trousers with (I-1, II-1) or without cut protection lining (I-2, II-2) were constituted. Tick infestation (quantity of ticks on the body surface) was assessed by questionnaire after 16 workdays. Control and intervention groups were compared by calculating the infestation rate (percentage of subjects with ticks) and the average number of ticks per workday. Results. The infestation rate was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (36.6 vs. 63.4%, p=0.001; Fisher-test). Further analysis revealed a significant reduction of tick infestation by permethrin treatment only for subjects wearing trousers without the cut protection lining (I-2: 34.2 vs. II-2: 80.0%, p<0.001), while users of cut protection trousers did not benefit from such treated trousers (I-1: 38.6 vs. II-1: 47.6%, n.s.). Similar results were found for comparisons based on the average number of ticks per workday. Conclusions. The use of permethrin-treated trousers does not completely prevent tick infestations. Improvement of tick protection has been shown only for some applications, but not in general. Additional prevention measures are therefore still indispensable.
Francesco Ceccarelli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Exposure-response relationship for vibration-induced white finger among Forestry Workers.
Central European journal of public health, 1996Co-Authors: Massimo Bovenzi, A Franzinelli, M G Cannavà, M Maiorano, R. Mancini, Francesco CeccarelliAbstract:The relation between the occurrence of white finger and vibration exposure was investigated in a group of 222 Forestry Workers using chain saws. The Forestry Workers and 195 controls never exposed to hand-transmitted vibration were interviewed by occupational health physicians. The diagnosis of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) was made on the basis of subjective symptoms of finger blanching and the results of a cold test with plethysmographic measurement of finger systolic blood pressure. Vibration was measured on a representative sample of AV and non-AV chain saws. Daily vibration exposure was assessed in terms of 8 h energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration [A(8)]. A lifetime vibration dose was estimated for each of the Forestry Workers. The overall prevalence of VWF among the Forestry Workers was 23.4%. Raynaud's phenomenon was discovered in 2.6% of the controls. In the Forestry Workers, the risk of VWF showed positive increments with each increment of vibration dose, suggesting a monotonic dose-response relationship. The responsiveness to cold in the digital arteries of the Forestry Workers was also found to increase with increasing vibration dose. The estimated relation between VWF and vibration exposure showed that the expected occurrence of VWF increased in approximately linear proportion to either A(8) (with exposure duration unchanged) or the number of years of exposure (with equivalent acceleration unchanged). In this study of VWF among Forestry Workers the estimated exposure-response relation showed that if the magnitude of vibration acceleration is doubled, the total duration of exposure should be halved to produce an equivalent effect. On the basis of the assessment of vibration exposure, the estimated risk for VWF in the study population was found to be lower than that predicted by the International Standard ISO 5349. The results of this study tend to support the vibration exposure levels currently under discussion within the European Union.
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Dose-response relation for vascular disorders induced by vibration in the fingers of Forestry Workers.
Occupational and environmental medicine, 1995Co-Authors: Massimo Bovenzi, A Franzinelli, M G Cannavà, M Maiorano, R. Mancini, Francesco CeccarelliAbstract:OBJECTIVES: To study the relation between the prevalence of vascular disorders (white finger) and vibration exposure in a group of 222 Forestry Workers, of whom 164 (73.9%) had work experience limited to antivibration (AV) chain saws only and 58 (26.1%) had operated both non-AV and AV chain saws. METHODS: The chain saw operators and 195 control Workers never exposed to hand transmitted vibration were interviewed with health and workplace assessment questionnaires. The diagnosis of vibration induced white finger (VWF) was made on the basis of subjective symptoms of finger blanching and the results of a cold test with plethysmographic measurement of systolic blood pressure of the finger. Vibration was measured on a representative sample of AV and non-AV chain saws. Daily vibration exposure was assessed as eight hour energy equivalent frequency weighted acceleration (A(8)). A lifetime vibration dose was estimated for each of the Forestry Workers. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of VWF among the Forestry Workers was 23.4%. The diagnosis of VWF was made in 13.4% of the Forestry Workers who handled only AV chain saws and in 51.7% of those who had also operated non-AV chain saws in the past. Raynaud's phenomenon was found in 2.6% of the controls. In the Forestry Workers, the risk for VWF showed positive increments with each increment of vibration dose, suggesting a monotonic dose-response relation. The responsiveness to cold in the digital arteries of the Forestry Workers was also found to increase with increasing vibration dose and severity of VWF. The estimated relation between VWF and vibration exposure showed that the expected prevalence of VWF increased almost linearly to either A(8) (with exposure duration unchanged) or the number of years of exposure (with equivalent acceleration unchanged). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of VWF among Forestry Workers, the estimated dose-response relation showed that if the magnitude of vibration acceleration is doubled, the total duration of exposure should be halved to produce an equivalent effect. On the basis of the assessment of vibration exposure, the estimated risk for VWF in the study population was found to be lower than that predicted by the international standard ISO 5349. These findings suggest a revision of the risk estimates for VWF currently provided by ISO 5349.
O. Korhonen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vibration-induced neuropathy among Forestry Workers
Acta neurologica Scandinavica, 2009Co-Authors: Markus Färkkilä, S Aatola, Ilmari Pyykkö, J. Starck, O. KorhonenAbstract:The neurological findings of 217 Forestry Workers were evaluated during a compulsory annual health examination. Vibration detection thresholds were determined for the left hand and foot. The handgrip forces were measured for both hands. A reduction in the vibration detection threshold or handgrip force was not associated with clinical neuropathy. Polyneuropathy was found in 4% of the lumberjacks whereas neuropathy restricted to the arms was found in 7.5% of the lumberjacks. The neuropathic findings were not linked with alcohol consumption but were associated with a history of numbness in the hands and diminished muscle force. The findings support the concept that local vibration can cause neuropathy in the arms, but the mechanism of vibration-induced neuropathy still remains uncertain. Language: en
Ilmari Pyykkö - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vibration-induced neuropathy among Forestry Workers
Acta neurologica Scandinavica, 2009Co-Authors: Markus Färkkilä, S Aatola, Ilmari Pyykkö, J. Starck, O. KorhonenAbstract:The neurological findings of 217 Forestry Workers were evaluated during a compulsory annual health examination. Vibration detection thresholds were determined for the left hand and foot. The handgrip forces were measured for both hands. A reduction in the vibration detection threshold or handgrip force was not associated with clinical neuropathy. Polyneuropathy was found in 4% of the lumberjacks whereas neuropathy restricted to the arms was found in 7.5% of the lumberjacks. The neuropathic findings were not linked with alcohol consumption but were associated with a history of numbness in the hands and diminished muscle force. The findings support the concept that local vibration can cause neuropathy in the arms, but the mechanism of vibration-induced neuropathy still remains uncertain. Language: en
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Hand-arm vibration syndrome with use of anti-vibration chain saws: 19-year follow-up study of Forestry Workers
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2006Co-Authors: Päivi Sutinen, Esko Toppila, Jukka Starck, Anthony Brammer, Ilmari PyykköAbstract:Objectives : Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) consists of vascular and neurological component. Musculoskeletal component has not been delineated yet. In the present follow-up study, we evaluated the prevalence of HAVS and the cumulative exposure to vibration among a cohort of Forestry Workers. Special interest was given to numbness and musculoskeletal disorders of upper extremity and neck in Forestry Workers. Methods : A follow-up study starting from 1976 was conducted among Forestry Workers in Suomussalmi in Finland. Total exposure of hand-arm vibration was recorded during 11 cross-sectional surveys. The last study was carried out in 1995. The lifetime dose of vibration energy was calculated. A cohort of 52 forest Workers participated to all 11 cross-sectional surveys 1976–1995. HAVS and musculoskeletal disorders were evaluated. Results : The prevalence of active vibration white finger (VWF) decreased from 13 to 4% in the cross-sectional study. In the cohort VWF decreased from 17 to 8% and numbness increased from 23 to 40%. Rotator cuff syndrome ( P =0.034) and epicondylitis ( P =0.004) associated with numbness. Regional neck pain was diagnosed in 38% of Workers and associated with low back pain. In modeling VWF, the lifelong vibration energy (OR 1.03, CI 1.01–1.05), and smoking (OR 7.36, CI 1.07–50.76) were significant. Numbness was modeled by pain in upper extremities (OR 12.43, CI 2.42–63.80) and neck pain (5.97, CI 1.25–28.39), not by lifelong vibration energy. Right rotator cuff syndrome was modeled by age (OR 2.58, CI 1.04–6.41) and lifelong vibration energy (OR 1.04, CI 1.00–1.07). Conclusions : The prevalence of VWF constantly decreased. Numbness did not follow the vibration exposure profile. Numbness also associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Hand-arm vibration associated with the right rotator cuff syndrome in Forestry Workers.