Hand cold stress testing among Arctic open-pit miners: a clinical study.

. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of individual characteristics (sex, age, body mass index [BMI] and smoking habits) on the tolerance time, pain ratings and rewarming time of hand cold stress testing (CST). .

Blood biomarkers for vibration-induced white fingers. A case-comparison study.

Background: Vibration induced white fingers (VWF) is one form of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP).

Methods: Vibration exposed workers with RP and vibration exposed controls without RP participated. Blood samples were collected before and after cold challenge exposure (COP).

Exposure to whole-body vibration and hospitalization due to lumbar disc herniation.

Objective: The aim was to examine if exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) increases the risk for hospitalization due to lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: The study basis is a cohort of 288,926 Swedish construction workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance programme from 1971 until 1992. Job title, smoking habits, body weight, height and age were registered at the examinations.

Hand-arm vibration and the risk of vascular and neurological diseases-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Increased occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon, neurosensory injury and carpal tunnel syndrome has been reported for more than 100 years in association with work with vibrating machines. The current risk prediction modelling (ISO-5349) for "Raynaud's phenomenon" is based on a few studies published 70 to 40 years ago. There are no corresponding risk prediction models for neurosensory injury or carpal tunnel syndrome, nor any systematic reviews comprising a statistical synthesis (meta-analysis) of the evidence.

Musculoskeletal symptoms and exposure to whole-body vibration among open-pit mine workers in the Arctic.

Objectives: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out at 4 open-pit mines in Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden as part of the MineHealth project. The aim has been to compare the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms between drivers of mining vehicles and non-drivers.

Material And Methods: The mine workers were asked whether they had suffered from any musculoskeletal symptoms during the previous 12 months in specified body regions, and to grade the severity of these symptoms during the past month.

Thermal perception thresholds among workers in a cold climate.

Purpose: To investigate whether exposure to cold could influence the thermal perception thresholds in a working population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 251 males and females and was carried out at two mines in the northern part of Norway and Sweden. The testing included a baseline questionnaire, a clinical examination and measurements of thermal perception thresholds, on both hands, the index (Digit 2) and little (Digit 5) fingers, for heat and cold.

Neurovascular hand symptoms in relation to cold exposure in northern Sweden: a population-based study.

Purpose: To describe the self-reported ambient cold exposure in northern Sweden and to relate the level of cumulative cold exposure to the occurrence of sensory and vascular hand symptoms. We hypothesize that cold exposure is positively related to reporting such symptoms.

Methods: A questionnaire about cold exposure and related symptoms was sent out to 35,144 subjects aged 18-70 years and living in northern Sweden.

Association between Pain in Adolescence and Low Back Pain in Adulthood: Studying a Cohort of Mine Workers.

To study the association of self-reported pain in adolescence with low back pain (LBP) in adulthood among mine workers and, also, study associations between the presence of LBP over 12-month or one-month LBP intensity during a health examination and daily ratings of LBP three and nine months later. Mixed design with data collected retrospectively, cross-sectionally, and prospectively. Data was collected using a questionnaire during a health examination and by using self-reported daily ratings of LBP three and nine months after the examination.

Is outdoor work associated with elevated rates of cerebrovascular disease mortality? A cohort study based on iron-ore mining.

Background: A cohort study that examined iron ore mining found negative associations between cumulative working time employed underground and several outcomes, including mortality of cerebrovascular diseases. In this cohort study, and using the same group of miners, we examined whether work in an outdoor environment could explain elevated cerebrovascular disease rates.

Methods: This study was based on a Swedish iron ore mining cohort consisting of 13,000 workers.

Exposure to whole-body vibration in open-cast mines in the Barents region.

Objectives: We aimed to measure and evaluate whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure among drivers of mining vehicles in the Barents region.

Study Design: In the period from November 2012 to August 2014, this cross-sectional study was carried out at 3 mines in Finland, Norway and Sweden as part of the MineHealth project.

Methods: Measurements of WBV were conducted on the surface of the driver's seat during normal work in accordance with international standards.

Neurosensory and vascular function after 14 months of military training comprising cold winter conditions.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of 14 months of military training comprising cold winter conditions on neurosensory and vascular function in the hands and feet.

Methods: Military conscripts (N=54) were assessed with quantitative sensory testing comprising touch, temperature, and vibration perception thresholds and finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) after local cooling and a questionnaire on neurosensory and vascular symptoms at both baseline and follow-up. Ambient air temperature was recorded with body worn temperature loggers.

Daily text messages used as a method for assessing low back pain among workers.

Objectives: To evaluate a method for collecting data concerning low back pain (LBP) using daily text messages and to characterize the reported LBP in terms of intensity, variability, and episodes.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted a cohort study of LBP among workers used by a mining company. The participants were asked to answer the question "How much pain have you had in your lower back in the last 24 hours on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = the worst pain imaginable" once a day for 5 weeks, with this process being repeated 6 months later.

Risk of hearing loss among workers with vibration-induced white fingers.

Background: We examined the risk of hearing loss for workers who use hand-held vibrating tools with vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) compared to workers without VWF.

Methods: Data on 184 participants from a 21-year cohort were gathered with questionnaires and measurements. The effects on hearing status of VWF, hand-arm vibration exposure, smoking habits, age and two-way interactions of these independent variables were examined with binary logistic regression.

Whole-body vibration and the risk of low back pain and sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic literature review was to evaluate the association between whole-body vibration (WBV) and low back pain (LBP) and sciatica with special attention given to exposure estimates. Moreover, the aim was to estimate the magnitude of such an association using meta-analysis and to compare our findings with previous reviews.

Methods: The authors systematically searched the PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda), Nioshtic2 (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Morgantown), and ScienceDirect (Elsevier, Amsterdam) databases for records up to December 31, 2013.

Quantitatively measured tremor in hand-arm vibration-exposed workers.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible increase in hand tremor in relation to hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure in a cohort of exposed and unexposed workers.

Methods: Participants were 178 male workers with or without exposure to HAV. The study is cross-sectional regarding the outcome of tremor and has a longitudinal design with respect to exposure.

Raynaud's phenomenon among men and women with noise-induced hearing loss in relation to vibration exposure.

Raynaud's phenomenon is characterized by constriction in blood supply to the fingers causing finger blanching, of white fingers (WF) and is triggered by cold. Earlier studies found that workers using vibrating hand-held tools and who had vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) had an increased risk for hearing loss compared with workers without VWF. This study examined the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon among men and women with noise-induced hearing loss in relation to vibration exposure.

Neurosensory sequelae assessed by thermal and vibrotactile perception thresholds after local cold injury.

Background: Local freezing cold injuries are common in the north and sequelae to cold injury can persist many years. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to assess neurosensory symptoms but has previously not been used on cold injury patients.

Objective: To evaluate neurosensory sequelae after local freezing cold injury by thermal and vibrotactile perception thresholds and by symptom descriptions.

A prospective cohort study investigating an exposure-response relationship among vibration-exposed male workers with numbness of the hands.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure-response relationship of hand-arm vibration exposure to neurological symptoms (numbness) of the hand in a cohort of vibration-exposed workers.

Methods: The baseline cohort comprised 241 office and manual workers with and without exposure to hand-arm vibration. Numbness (the symptom or event) in the hand was assessed for all subjects at baseline and follow-ups after 5, 10, and 16 years.

Determinants explaining the variability of hand-transmitted vibration emissions from two different work tasks: grinding and cutting using angle grinders.

Background: There are numerous factors including physical, biomechanical, and individual that influence exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) and cause variability in the exposure measurements. Knowledge of exposure variability and determinants of exposure could be used to improve working conditions. We performed a quasi-experimental study, where operators performed routine work tasks in order to obtain estimates of the variance components and to evaluate the effect of determinants, such as machine-wheel combinations and individual operator characteristics.

Quantitative neurosensory findings, symptoms and signs in young vibration exposed workers.

Background: Long-term exposure to hand-held vibrating tools may cause the hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) including vibration induced white fingers and sensorineural symptoms. The aim was to study early neurosensory effects by quantitative vibrotactile and monofilament tests in young workers with hand-held vibration exposure.

Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 142 young, male machine shop and construction workers with hand-held exposure to vibrating tools.

Back and neck pain due to working in a cold environment: a cross-sectional study of male construction workers.

Objective: To study whether work in a cold environment increased the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and low back among construction workers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on a cohort of male workers in the Swedish construction industry that participated in regular health examinations through a nationwide occupational health service. The analysis is based on workers examined from 1971 to 1974, who answered a questionnaire including questions about neck and back pain.

Noise and hand-arm vibration exposure in relation to the risk of hearing loss.

The aim of this study was to examine the possible association of combined exposure of noise and hand-arm vibration (HAV) and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Workers in a heavy engineering industry were part of a dynamic cohort. Of these workers, 189 had HAV exposure, and their age and hearing status were recorded in the same year and were, therefore, included in the analysis.

Risk factors for hospitalization due to lumbar disc disease.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: To study biomechanical factors in relation to symptomatic lumbar disc disease.

Summary Of Background Data: The importance of biomechanical factors in lumbar disc disease has been questioned in the past decade and knowledge from large prospective studies is lacking.

The effect on the temporary threshold shift in hearing acuity from combined exposure to authentic noise and hand-arm vibration.

Objectives: This study examined and compared the effect on temporary threshold shift in hearing (TTS) in healthy subjects of noise and hand-arm vibration (HAV) combined and separately using controlled and authentic exposure conditions. This study also investigated the effect on TTS in hearing in relation to gender after such exposures.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy subjects (11 men/women, mean age 22 years, range 18-31 years) were exposed both separately and in combination with HAV (6.