Assessment of semen quality of taxi drivers exposed to whole body vibration. 2022

Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
Workplace Health Promotion Research Center, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Whole body vibration (WBV) is a recognized occupational hazard for many workers such as drivers and operators of heavy and light machinery and exposure to it is accompanied by physical and mental repercussions. Only the limited studies have been done on the effects of vibration exposure on reproductive indices, however vibration exposure has been indicated as being a hazardous agents with the potential of being able to directly affect the reproductive system. Considering the importance of infertility, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating semen quality among taxi drivers in Tehran and determine the effect of exposure to WBV on sperm parameters. The study population consisted of 70 taxi drivers and 70 office employee who attended infertility clinics for diagnostic purposes in the past year. The participants had to meet the entry criteria of the study while also being willing to recruit. Data was collected in the form of demographic questionnaires and general health questionnaires as well as sperm analysis conducted in an infertility clinic according to standard laboratory guidelines. The 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure to of WBV in automobile was measured as per ISO 2631-1. The TWA exposure to WBV among the taxi drivers and office employees were 0.697 ± 0.13 m/s2 and 0.068 ± 0.09 m/s2 respectively (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference in total sperm count, progressive motility, non-progressive motility and total motility was observed between the taxi drivers and the office employees (P < 0.05). According to the univariate analysis of variance, exposure to WBV had negative effect on sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology (P > 0.05); moreover exposure to WBV resulted in the larger effect size (B) on sperm parameters than the demographic variables (P > 0.05). Being taxi drivers increase the chance of the decreased semen quality (P > 0.05). It is difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effects of WBV while intervening factors exist, such as psychological stressors, quality of sleep, background issues as well as environmental factors such as chemical pollutants (heavy metals) or ergonomic factors (body posture and working while sitting down).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
March 2004, Journal of occupational health,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
September 2003, Ergonomics,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
May 2004, Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.),
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
January 2015, Ergonomics,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
January 1990, International archives of occupational and environmental health,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
January 2021, Work (Reading, Mass.),
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
October 2022, La Medicina del lavoro,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
January 2009, Industrial health,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
September 1992, Spine,
Sirvan Zarei, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, and Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, and Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani, and Soheila Khodakarim Ardakani
August 1994, Applied ergonomics,
Copied contents to your clipboard!