Hearing Loss in Agricultural Workers Exposed to Pesticides and Noise

Social Determinants of Health and Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults

OBJECTIVES

Social determinants of health (SDH) are nonmedical, societal factors that influence health. There is limited information on the current relationship between SDH and hearing loss (HL) in the United States. This study aims to compare the odds of HL among US adults by race/ethnicity, education level, income-to-poverty level ratio, health insurance coverage, and health care access.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The 2015-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were analyzed to compare odds ratios (ORs) for HL, defined as pure tone average over 25 dB HL in at least one ear, by SDH categories using sample weights. Adjusted ORs were calculated using logistic regression models controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, education level, income-to-federal-poverty level, health care insurance coverage and access, and loud noise, pesticide, and cigarette exposure.

RESULTS

A total of 6028 participants were included. Non-Hispanic Black participants had half the odds of HL as Non-Hispanic White participants (OR 0.52, p < 0.05). Lower education level correlated with higher odds of HL: those without a high school diploma had double the odds of HL compared with college graduates or above (OR 2.05, 1.91, p < 0.05). The income-to-federal-poverty level ratio of 1.3 to less than 2 had higher odds of HL than the 4+ group (OR 1.45, p < 0.05). Use of multiple health care locations was associated with nearly three times the odds of HL than the group using one location (OR 2.87, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SDH are associated with HL. Further investigation is needed into the mechanism of disparities for targeted prevention and treatment for hearing care equity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV Laryngoscope, 134:2848-2856, 2024.

Hearing Difficulties Among Farmworkers in the México-US Southwest Border Region

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are a vulnerable population with a potentially high risk for hearing loss due to farm-related noise exposures. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent, and it is associated with an increased risk for injuries on the job, as well as communication difficulties, isolation, and depression. The México/US border region is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country, however, no known studies have explored hearing loss among farmworkers in this area. This pilot study was a first step toward measuring and addressing hearing loss and noise exposure among this region's farmworkers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of subjective hearing difficulties among Yuma County, Arizona farmworkers. Survey interviews took place during a late-night farmworker health fair from 2 am to 6 am to accommodate local farms' labor schedules. Multivariable regression adjusted for demographic and work covariates estimated subjective hearing loss prevalence ratios. Among 132 farmworker participants, 36% reported they have or might have hearing loss, and 62% reported no hearing loss. Subjective hearing loss prevalence was lower in farmworkers who report not working in noise compared to prevalence in farmworkers who work in noise [prevalence ratio, 0.44 (95% CI 0.23-0.82)]. This report contributes to understanding the perception of hearing-related health and occupational exposures among farmworkers in the México-US Southwest border region. The information from this line of research will inform appropriate safety measures known to lower the risk of experiencing occupational NIHL.

Hearing Loss and Disorders: The Repercussions of Climate Change

PURPOSE

Climate change is considered to be the greatest threat to human health in the 21st century, and its effects are accelerating. Extensive research has clearly demonstrated its increasing impact across the continuum of health conditions. Despite this, there has been limited attention to the ramifications of climate change on hearing loss and hearing disorders. This lack of consideration is somewhat surprising as the environment itself and its changing nature have a substantial effect on hearing.

METHOD

Tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century. To address this issue, this tutorial provides a general introduction to climate change and its three major elements (pollution, infectious diseases, and extreme weather events) and their effects on health. The substantial consequences of climate change for the incidence, development, and exacerbation of hearing loss and disorders are clearly described and detailed.

CONCLUSIONS

The challenge of responding to this very real and escalating threat to hearing requires a combination of prevention, advocacy, and education. These three roles place audiologists in the perfect position to take action on the far-reaching effects of climate change on hearing loss and disorders. To respond to this challenge and to fulfill these roles, several strategies, ranging from the individual level to the global level, are delineated for audiologists to incorporate into their practice.

Noise exposure and hearing loss among tractor drivers in India

BACKGROUND

Tractors emit high intensity noise and prolonged exposure to high intensity noise causes hearing loss to the drivers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to measure noise intensity at the tractor drivers' ear level and hearing loss among tractor drivers.

METHODS

Noise intensity was measured on 6 models of tractors which were operated with 5 different tillage implements. In order to assess hearing loss, audiometric test was performed at 7 frequencies, i.e. 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz, among 30 tractor drivers and 30 control group subjects. All the selected tractor drivers and control group subjects were also interviewed to obtain personal information and noise exposure details.

RESULTS

The tractor drivers were exposed to noise intensity in the range of 91.7-97.5 dB(A). Audiogram analysis shows that the hearing threshold levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher among the tractor drivers as compared with the control group subjects. The effect was significantly (p < 0.05) more on the left ear as compared with the right ear among the tractor drivers. Increase in age has significant (p < 0.05) effect on the hearing threshold levels on the left ear. Prevalence of high frequency hearing loss was 50% among tractor drivers as compared with 10% among control group subjects. Hearing loss was significantly (p < 0.05) more in the low frequency as compared with the high frequency among the tractor drivers.

CONCLUSION

Indian tractor operators are exposed to high noise levels which may result in hearing loss. It is recommended that hearing conservation programs should be initiated to prevent noise hazards and hearing loss among the tractor drivers.

School Hearing Screening With a Portable, Tablet-Based, Noise-Attenuating Audiometric Headset in Rural Nicaragua

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the utility and effectiveness of a noise-attenuating, tablet-based mobile health system combined with asynchronous telehealth evaluations for screening rural Nicaraguan schoolchildren for hearing loss.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective population-based survey.

SETTING

Rural Nicaraguan communities.

PATIENTS

There were 3,398 school children 7 to 9 years of age.

INTERVENTIONS

Diagnostic automated and manual audiometry, detailed asynchronous telehealth evaluations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Referral rates, ambient noise levels, and audiometric results as well as hearing loss prevalence, types, and risk factors.

RESULTS

Despite high ambient noise levels during screening (46.7 dBA), no effect of noise on referral rates on automated audiometry or confirmatory manual audiometry in those who failed automated testing was seen. The overall audiometric referral rate was 2.6%. Idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and cerumen impaction were the most common types of hearing loss in this population with an estimated prevalence of hearing loss (all types) of 18.3 per 1,000 children. SNHL was associated with both drug exposure during pregnancy (p = 0.04) and pesticide exposure in the home (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Hearing screening using a tablet-based, noise-attenuating wireless headset audiometer is feasible and effective in rural low-resource environments with moderately elevated ambient noise levels. The referral rate with noise-attenuating headsets was much lower than that previous reports on this population. In addition, manual audiometry resulted in much lower referral rates than automated audiometry. The confirmed hearing loss rate in this study is comparable to reports from other low-income countries that use some form of noise attenuation during screening. Pesticide exposure and drug exposure during pregnancy are potential causes of SNHL in this population.

Exploring the effects and mechanisms of organophosphorus pesticide exposure and hearing loss

Many environmental factors, such as noise, chemicals, and heavy metals, are mostly produced by human activities and easily induce acquired hearing loss. Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) constitute a large variety of chemicals and have high usage with potentiate damage to human health. Moreover, their metabolites also show a serious potential contamination of soil, water, and air, leading to a serious impact on people's health. Hearing loss affects 430 million people (5.5% of the global population), bringing a heavy burden to individual patients and their families and society. However, the potential risk of hearing damage by OPs has not been taken seriously. In this study, we summarized the effects of OPs on hearing loss from epidemiological population studies and animal experiments. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms of OP-induced hearing loss are elucidated from oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammatory response. Overall, this review provides an overview of OP exposure alone or with noise that leads to hearing loss in human and experimental animals.

Coexposure to Solvents and Noise as a Risk Factor for Hearing Loss in Agricultural Workers

OBJECTIVE

This study addressed the relationship of hearing loss and coexposure to solvents and noise among farmers and ranchers in central United States.

METHODS

The surveillance study included surveys to stratified random samples of operations in 2018 and 2020 (n = 34,146), requesting information on injuries, illnesses, exposures, and preventive measures. Responses (n = 7495) were analyzed using hierarchical multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for personal and work characteristics.

RESULTS

Nearly 60% of respondents exposed to both solvents and noise reported hearing loss. The exposures increased the adjusted odds of moderate/severe hearing loss as follows: solvents alone, (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-2.38), noise alone (OR, 4.42; 95% CI, 3.39-5.76), and coexposure to both noise and solvents (OR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.67-7.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Solvent exposure, along with noise, should be considered in hearing conservation programs among farmers and ranchers.

Associations of age at natural menopause and occupations in Chinese female workers: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

To investigate the impact of occupation types on age at natural menopause.

METHODS

This is a nation-wide cross-sectional study based on 17,948 female workers aged over 40, who come from different industries or organizations. A face-to-face standardized questionnaire was conducted in all participants with the help of occupational hygienists. Occupational titles were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (2008) (ISCO08). Cox regression model was used to assess the association between each independent occupation and menopausal timing. Models were adjusted for marriage, education, average annual family income, parity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption.

RESULTS

Higher risks of earlier age at natural menopause was found among legislators and senior officials (ISCO Minor group:111, HR = 2.328, P < 0.001), among other health associated professionals (ISCO Minor group: 325, HR = 1.477, P = 0.003), the workers involved in mining and mineral processing (ISCO Minor group: 811, HR = 1.515, P = 0.048) and metal processing and finishing (ISCO Minor group: 812, HR = 1.722, P < 0.001). Reduced risks of earlier age at natural menopause, including: finance professionals (ISCO Minor group: 241, HR = 0.751, P = 0.021), manufacturing and construction supervisors (ISCO Minor group: 312, HR = 0.477, P = 0.002), administrative and specialized secretaries (ISCO Minor group: 334, HR = 0.788, P = 0.045), cleaners and helpers (ISCO Minor group: 911, HR = 0.633, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to address the influence of occupation types on reproductive aging, showing some specific occupations could be associated with age at natural menopause. Further investigations are necessary to clarify whether it is chance finding or a true association.

Mechanical Processing of Hard Coal as a Source of Noise Pollution. Case Study in Poland

This article presents the results of noise tests, measurements and proposals of solutions that have an impact for reducing noise at one of the Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A. mines. All units and workstations at the mechanical coal processing plant were tested. Coal enrichment, aimed at adjusting its quality parameters to the requirements of various customers, is considered as a stage of mineral resources management. The adaptation of the quality of commercial coal products to the needs of specific customers consists in removing useless components from the excavated material. The processes of coal processing are carried out on various machines, the power of which reaches several dozen kilowatts. The energy of these machines, in addition to the useful power, is converted into heat, friction and noise. From the energy point of view, noise is not important, but it is very harmful to employees. The issue of noise pollution, although very dangerous to employees’ health, is often underestimated. Due to the subjective perception of noise, it is not possible to determine the risk without proper research. The aim of this study was to determine where the noise standards are exceeded. The next step was to propose specific solutions to reduce the impacts of noise on health and work comfort.