Professional Driving and Adverse Reproductive Outcomes: The Evidence to Date and Research Challenges

The literature has reported widely on the adverse effects of whole-body vibration (wbv) exposure on professional drivers and the adverse health outcomes of lower back pain, and other musculoskeletal effects. Fewer reports exist on the adverse effects of wbv on the female reproductive system and foetal health and even less on the male reproductive system and function. This paper highlights some of the past and current literary evidence on the effects of wbv on the female and male reproductive systems and function as well as the possible reasons for the paucity of evidence in the literature. The difficulties in conducting epidemiological research in this field are explored with discussion on some of the major confounding factors which make it difficult to establish clear causal links between exposure and outcomes, especially for adverse reproductive effects.