Summary
The early detection of impaired of vibration sensation is necessary in order to monitor the adverse effects in workers occupationally exposed to neurotoxic chemicals such as acrylamide. The conventional neurological examination which assesses vibration sensation by utilizing a tuning fork is relatively insensitive for this purpose. In the present study, the Vibratron II, a new device for the quantitative measurement of vibration thresholds, was used in 105 healthy Chinese adults. A new testing procedure combining the “two-alternative forced-choice procedure” and the “yes-or-no method-of limits procedure” showed good reliability and was less time consuming. The results indicate that significant differences in the vibration threshold of index fingers and great toes were found neither between males and females, nor between the left and the right side. However, there was an age-dependent increase in vibration threshold in nonexposed healthy subjects. The vibration thresholds of 41 workers exposed to acrylamide detected by the Vibratron II were significantly higher than those of the healthy adults in the same age group. The quantitative measurement of vibration threshold seems to be potentially useful for screening peripheral nerve dysfunction in field studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arezzo JC, Schaumburg HH (1980) The use of the Optacon as a screening device. J Occup Med 22:461–464
Bachmann M, Myers JE, Bezuidenhout BN (1992) Acrylamide monomer and peripheral neuropathy in chemical workers. Am J Ind Med 21:217–222
Bleecker ML (1983) Optacon — a new screening device for peripheral neuropathies. Adv Biosci 46:41–46
Bleecker ML (1986) Vibration perception thresholds in entrapment and toxic neuropathies. J Occup Med 28:991–994
Bove FJ, Letz B, Baker EL (1989) Sensory thresholds among construction trade painters: a cross-sectional study using new methods for measuring temperature and vibration sensitivity. J Occup Med 31:320–325
Demers RY, Markell BL, Wabeke R (1991) Peripheral vibratory sense deficits in solvent-exposed painters. J Occup Med 33:1051–1054
Gerr F, Letz R (1988) Reliability of widely used test of peripheral cutaneous vibration sensitivity and a comparison of two testing protocols. Br J Ind Med 45:635–639
Gerr F, Hershman D, Letz R (1990) Vibrotactile threshold measurement for detecting neurotoxicity: reliability and determination of age and height-standardized normative values. Arch Environ Health 45:148–154
He F, Zhang S, Wang H, Li G, Zhang Z, Li F, Dong X, Hu F (1989) Neurological and electroneuromyographic assessment of the adverse effects of acrylamide on occupationally exposed workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 15:125–129
Miller MS, Spencer PS (1985) The mechanisms of acrylamide axonopathy. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 25:643–666
Moody L, Arezzo J, Otto D (1986) Evaluation of workers of early peripheral neuropathy: the role of existing diagnostic tools. Semin Occup Med 1:53–162
Schaumburg HH, Spencer PS (1979) Toxic neuropathies. Neurology 29:429–431
Tilson HA (1981) The neurotoxicity of acrylamide: an overview. Neurobehav Toxicol Teratal 3:445–461
Zhang S, Wei X, Chen S, Zhou X, He F (1984) Observations on peripheral nerve damage in local vibration workers. J Inst Health 13:4–7
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Deng, H., He, F., Zhang, S. et al. Quantitative measurements of vibration threshold in healthy adults and acrylamide workers. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 65, 53–56 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586059
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586059