Summary
Habitual use of many vibrating tools has been found to be connected with the appearance of various disorders affecting the blood vessels, nerves, bones, joints, muscles or connective tissues of the hand and forearm. The vibration exposures required to cause these diseases are not known exactly, either with respect to vibration intensity and the vibration frequency spectrum, or with respect to daily exposure time and total exposure period. The purpose of this study is to investigate available data on the physical conditions in Japan that have caused vibration induced white finger (VWF) and attempt to establish approximate relationships between vibration conditions and prevalence of VWF. The vibration conditions were evaluated using the method of vibration assessment recommended by the International Standardized Organization, which uses the weighted vibration level of the frequency weighted, dominant, single axis component of vibration directed into the hand. A clear correlation between level, prevalence of VWF and exposure period can be found. The results also suggest the relationship between the weighted levels and latent intervals. These dose-effect relationships enable the prediction of the average latent interval for a population group and the range of progression of the disorders—all from a measurement of the vibration entering the hands. In Japanese cases, 4, 8, and 15% of VWF prevalence correspond with 10, 20, and 40% of VWF prevalence in the Draft International Standard ISO/DIS 5349 (1982) within the weighted vibration level range of 2 to 50m · s¨.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brammer AJ (1978) Chain saw vibration: its measurement, hazards and control. National Research Council of Canada, Physics Division Report APS 599
Brammer AJ (1981 a) Towards standards for occupational exposure of the hand to vibration. Abstracts of the International Workshop on Research Method in Human Motion and Vibration Studies, pp 16–18
Brammer AJ (1981b) Relations between exposure to vibration and the development of the vibration syndrome. Abstracts of the Third International Symposium on Hand-Arm Vibration, Ottawa
Brammer AJ, Taylor W (1982) Vibration effects on the hand and arm in industry. A WileyInterscience Publication, John Wiley & Sons, New York
Futatsuka M, Takamatsu M, Gotoh T (1976) An epidemiologic study on vibration hazards among workers at the state forests in Kyushu. Jpn J Ind Health 18:3–10
Futatsuka M (1979) A study on the vibration hazards due to using bush cutters. Jpn J Ind Health 21:269–273
Futatsuka M, Ueno T (1983) Analytical study on the vibration exposure and vibration induced white finger due to operating chain saw [in press]
Gotoh (1980) Vibration disease due to chipping hammer among stone cutters. J Kurume Med Assoc 45:862–880
Griffin MJ (1980) Vibration injuries of the hand and arm: their occurrence and the evolution of standards and limits. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London
Griffin MJ (1981 a) Dose-effect relationships for vibration-induced white finger. Abstracts of the United Kingdom Informal Group Meeting on Human Response to Vibration
Griffin MJ (1981b) Hand-arm vibration standards and dose-effect relationships. Abstracts of the Third International Symposium on Hand-Arm Vibration, Ottawa
International Organization for Standardization (1979) Draft International Standard ISO/DIS 5349. Principles for the measurement and the evaluation of human exposure to vibration transmitted to the hand
International Organization for Standardization (1982) Draft proposal for a second draft international standard ISO/DIS 5349. Guide for the measurement and the assessment of human exposure to vibration transmitted to the hand
Matsumoto T, Yamada S, Hisanaga N, Harada N, Kaneda K (1977) On vibration hazards in rock-drill operators of a metal mine. Jpn J Ind Health 19:256–265
Nakaya S (1980) Epidemiologial studies on the vibration disease due to chain saws among forestry workers in Iwate prefecture. J Iwate Med Assoc 32:886–902
Takamatsu M, Futatsuka M, Sakurai T, Matoba T, Gotoh M, Aoyama H, Osaki H, Ishida K, Nasu Y, Watanabe S, Hosokawa M, Iwata H, Yamada S, Matsumoto T, Kaneda K, Okada A, Nohara S, Miura T, Miwa S, Uehata T, Yamazaki K, Suzuki H, Usutani S, Honma H, Koshichi H, Wakaba K (1982) A study of the extent and scope of local vibration hazards in Japan. Ind Health 20:177–190
Taylor W (1974) The vibration syndrome. Academic Press, London
Taylor W, Pelmear PL (1975) Vibration white finger in industry. Academic Press, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Futatsuka, M., Sakurai, T. & Ariizumi, M. Preliminary evaluation of dose-effect relationships for vibration induced white finger in Japan. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 54, 201–221 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379050
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379050