Lundström R, Nilsson T, Burström L, Hagberg M
National Institute for Working Life, Department of Technical Hygiene, Umeå, Sweden.
Am J Ind Med. 1999 May;35(5):456-64. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199905)35:5<456::aid-ajim2>3.0.co;2-#.
The objectives of the study were to examine whether occupational use of vibrating hand-held tools was associated with an impaired vibrotactile perception, whether any exposure-response relationship exists, and whether the different populations of mechano-receptive afferent units are equally affected.
Vibrotactile perception thresholds have been measured at seven frequencies (8-500 Hz) and evaluated among 125 vibration-exposed and 45 non-exposed male employees in a heavy engineering production workshop. Vibration exposure measurements were assessed on tools in accordance with ISO 5349. Vibrotactile perception thresholds have been individually graded in stages and placed in relation to individual vibration exposure.
The outcome did not reveal a clear relationship between vibration exposure and reduced vibrotactile sensitivity on an individual basis. There was a clear tendency on a group basis towards elevated thresholds when the study population was divided into three exposure categories. A fourfold increase in relative risk of reduced vibrotactile sensitivity for test frequencies above 40 Hz was observed between the highest exposure category compared to the non-exposed.
It was concluded that reduced tactile sensitivity is related to the degree of vibration exposure but it is not at present possible to delineate an exposure-response relationship.
本研究的目的是探讨手持振动工具的职业使用是否与振动触觉感知受损有关，是否存在任何暴露-反应关系，以及不同类型的机械感受传入单元是否受到同等影响。
在一个重型机械生产车间，对125名接触振动的男性员工和45名未接触振动的男性员工测量了七个频率（8 - 500赫兹）下的振动触觉感知阈值并进行评估。根据ISO 5349标准对工具的振动暴露进行测量。振动触觉感知阈值已按阶段进行个体分级，并与个体振动暴露情况相关联。
结果并未显示出个体层面上振动暴露与振动触觉敏感性降低之间的明确关系。当将研究人群分为三个暴露类别时，在群体层面上有阈值升高的明显趋势。与未暴露组相比，最高暴露类别中40赫兹以上测试频率的振动触觉敏感性降低的相对风险增加了四倍。
得出的结论是，触觉敏感性降低与振动暴露程度有关，但目前尚无法描绘出暴露-反应关系。
