Thermal perception thresholds among workers in a cold climate.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health
; 90(7): 645-652, 2017 10.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28497276
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. RESULTS: The thermal perception thresholds were affected by age, gender and test site. The thresholds were impaired by experiences of frostbite in the fingers and the use of medication that potentially could affect neurosensory functions. No differences were found between the calculated normative values for these workers and those in other comparative investigations conducted in warmer climates. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided no support for the hypothesis that living and working in cold climate will lead to impaired thermal perception thresholds. Exposure to cold that had caused localized damage in the form of frostbite was shown to lead to impaired thermal perception.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Umbral Sensorial
/
Clima Frío
/
Mano
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
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Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int Arch Occup Environ Health
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Suecia
Pais de publicación:
Alemania