Futatsuka M, Inaoka T, Ohtsuka R, Sakurai T, Moji K, Igarashi T
Department of Public Health, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Cent Eur J Public Health. 1995;3 Suppl:90-2.
Working conditions and health hazards including vibration syndrome related to forestry work using chain-saws were studied in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The subjects comprised 291 workers including 97 chain-saw operators. The health examination consisted of peripheral circulatory and sensory tests in the upper extremities. The vibration spectrum measured at the handle of the chain-saw indicated that these acceleration levels would lead to a moderately high risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). The peripheral circulatory function tests revealed dysfunction after more than five years vibration exposure. However, in general, the results of the function tests and subjective complaints showed fewer health problems compared to those of Japanese forestry workers. The reason of such differences of vibration effects seem to be the following: (1) warmer climate (more than 25 degrees C throughout the year), (2) young workers and short work experience. (3) short time vibration exposures on working days in the natural forests, (4) seasonal changes in logging work (5) healthy workers effects. Thus, we found no clear evidence that the workers of our study suffered from HAVS. A principal component analysis was applied. The factor score of the components of the reactive dynamics of peripheral circulation differed significantly after more than five years' exposure. On the other hand, we cannot deny the possibility that subclinical dysfunction of peripheral circulation may be caused by chain-saw operation in the tropics in future. Further investigations on the HAVS among forestry workers in the tropic environment are needed.
在巴布亚新几内亚和印度尼西亚，对包括与使用链锯的林业工作相关的振动综合征在内的工作条件和健康危害进行了研究。研究对象包括291名工人，其中97名是链锯操作员。健康检查包括上肢的外周循环和感觉测试。在链锯手柄处测得的振动频谱表明，这些加速度水平会导致手臂振动综合征（HAVS）的中度高风险。外周循环功能测试显示，在振动暴露超过五年后出现功能障碍。然而，总体而言，与日本林业工人相比，功能测试结果和主观症状显示的健康问题较少。振动影响存在这种差异的原因似乎如下：（1）气候温暖（全年超过25摄氏度），（2）工人年轻且工作经验短，（3）在天然林工作日的振动暴露时间短，（4）伐木工作的季节性变化，（5）健康工人效应。因此，我们没有发现明确的证据表明我们研究中的工人患有手臂振动综合征。应用了主成分分析。外周循环反应动力学成分的因子得分在暴露超过五年后有显著差异。另一方面，我们不能否认未来在热带地区链锯操作可能导致外周循环亚临床功能障碍的可能性。需要对热带环境中的林业工人的手臂振动综合征进行进一步调查。
