Quantitative observations on thermal and metabolic responses to cold of workers using vibrating tools.

Abstract

Quantitative observations on thermal and metabolic responses of 32 patients exposed to moderate cold of vibration hazards due to using chain saw were performed. In this study, many cases showed trends of both in increase of metabolic rate and decrease of mean skin temperatures. The ratio of 60 min mean value of the increase of metabolic rate/decrease of mean skin temperature is 3.5 +/- 2.60. Twenty-two patients (68.8%) indicated the value larger than 3. There are many with markedly large increase in metabolic rate in those who affected Raynaud's phenomenon. It can be suggested that many of the patients with the vibration hazards indicate an decrease of the cold tolerance ot the moderate cold exposure.