Blood biomarkers for occupational hand-arm vibration exposure

Hand-arm vibration is a common occupational exposure that causes neurological impairment, myalgia, and vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomena or vibration white fingers (VWF). The pathological mechanism is largely unknown, though several mechanisms have been proposed, involving both immunological vascular damage and defective neural responses. The aim of this study was to test whether the substances interleukin-33 (IL-33), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20), calcitonin, and thromboxane (TXA₂) changed before and after occupational hand-arm vibration exposure. 38 full-time shift workers exposed to hand-arm vibration were recruited. All the participants underwent medical examinations regarding symptoms of Raynaud's phenomena. In 29 of the participants, the concentration of IL-33, MDC, IL-10, ET-1, CCL20, calcitonin, and TXA₂ was measured before and after a workday. There was a significant increase in ET-1 and calcitonin concentration and a decrease in the CCL20 concentration after the work shift in all participants. In the group suffering from VWF, but not in the non-VWF group, MDC was statistically significantly lower before the work shift (p = .023). The VWF group also showed a significant increase in MDC after the work shift. Exposure to occupational hand-arm vibration is associated with changes in ET-1, calcitonin, and MDC concentration in subjects suffering from vibration white fingers, suggesting a role of these biomarkers in the pathophysiology of this condition.