Health Effects of Long-term Occupational Exposure to Whole Body Vibration: A Study on Drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicles in Iran

Neghab, Masuod; Kasaeinasab, Abbasali; Yousefi, Yadollah; Hassanzadeh, Jafar; Sarreshtedar, Hamidreza; Alighanbari, Negar

Health Effects of Long-term Occupational Exposure to Whole Body Vibration: A Study on Drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicles in Iran

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

Masuod Neghab ¹

Abbasali Kasaeinasab ²

Yadollah Yousefi ²

Jafar Hassanzadeh ³

Hamidreza Sarreshtedar ⁴

Negar Alighanbari ²

¹ Research Center for Health Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;

² Student’s Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;

³ Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;

⁴ Occupational Medicine Specialist, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Drivers of heavy motor vehicles are occupationally exposed to intense whole body vibration (WBV) for several hours per day over their working lifetime. Therefore, they are at risk of WBV-induced occupational disorders. This study aimed to investigate health effects of long-term exposure to whole body vibration among a group of heavy vehicle drivers in Fars province, southwestern Iran. Methods: Data on vibration-induced health effects were gathered through a checklist specifically devised for this purpose, interview and medical records of 155 male heavy vehicle drivers as well as 70 referent subjects. Signs and symptoms were classified into 6 categories of neuropsychological, gastrointestinal, ocular, auditory and metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Results: Symptoms such as neuropsychological, musculoskeletal, metabolic, visual and hearing disorders were significantly more prevalent among drivers than in referent individuals. Additionally, logistic regression analysis revealed that there were statistically significant associations between exposure to WBV and several outcomes. Conclusion: Findings of the study indicate that longterm occupational exposure to WBV is a risk factor for neuropsychological, musculoskeletal, metabolic, visual and hearing disorders.

Keywords

Health effects

Occupational Exposure

Whole body vibration

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