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Hillesheim D, Scharlach RC, da Silva ED, Silva BA, Zucki F. Factors Related to Dizziness in Workers With Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Brazil. Am J Audiol 2024:1-9. [PMID: 39151101 DOI: 10.1044/2024_aja-24-00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe the factors related to dizziness in workers with noise-induced hearing loss in Brazil. METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample from noise-induced hearing loss reports (2007-2019). The dependent variable in this study was dizziness, and the independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, symptoms, and noise characteristics in the work environment. Logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS A total of 3,824 individuals with noise-induced hearing loss in Brazil were analyzed. The prevalence of dizziness was 23.4% in the sample. Factors associated with dizziness were women (odds ratio [OR]: 2.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.64, 2.69]), hypertension (OR: 1.68; 95% CI [1.38, 2.06]), headache (OR: 6.31; 95% CI [5.26, 7.57]), tinnitus (OR: 3.46; 95% CI [2.82, 4.25]), and continuous noise at the work environment (OR: 1.54; 95% CI [1.22, 1.94]). CONCLUSIONS The factors associated with the outcome-dizziness-were gender (female), systemic arterial hypertension, headache, tinnitus, and continuous exposure to workplace noise. Such findings demonstrate the importance of promoting a multifactorial approach to understanding dizziness among workers exposed to occupational noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danúbia Hillesheim
- Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Renata Coelho Scharlach
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Eduarda Dandolini da Silva
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Amaral Silva
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Zucki
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
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Orikpete OF, Dennis NM, Kikanme KN, Ewim DRE. Advancing noise management in aviation: Strategic approaches for preventing noise-induced hearing loss. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 363:121413. [PMID: 38850921 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
As urbanization and population growth escalate, the challenge of noise pollution intensifies, particularly within the aviation industry. This review examines current insights into noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in aviation, highlighting the risks to pilots, cabin crew, aircraft maintenance engineers, and ground staff from continuous exposure to high-level noise. It evaluates existing noise management and hearing conservation strategies, identifying key obstacles and exploring new technological solutions. While progress in developing protective devices and noise control technologies is evident, gaps in their widespread implementation persist. The study underscores the need for an integrated strategy combining regulatory compliance, technological advances, and targeted educational efforts. It advocates for global collaboration and policy development to safeguard the auditory health of aviation workers and proposes a strategic framework to enhance hearing conservation practices within the unique challenges of the aviation sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ochuko Felix Orikpete
- Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (COHSE), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
| | - Nicole M Dennis
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, USA
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Tian Y, Zhao H, Li P, Zhou T, Qiu W, Li J. A Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Prediction Model Based on Asymmetric Convolution for Workers Exposed to Complex Industrial Noise. Ear Hear 2024; 45:648-657. [PMID: 38196103 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Current approaches for evaluating noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), such as the International Standards Organization 1999 (ISO) 1999 prediction model, rely mainly on noise energy and exposure time, thus ignoring the intricate time-frequency characteristics of noise, which also play an important role in NIHL evaluation. In this study, an innovative NIHL prediction model based on temporal and spectral feature extraction using an asymmetric convolution algorithm is proposed. DESIGN Personal data and individual occupational noise records from 2214 workers across 23 factories in Zhejiang Province, China, were used in this study. In addition to traditional metrics like noise energy and exposure duration, the importance of time-frequency features in NIHL assessment was also emphasized. To capture these features, operations such as random sampling, windowing, short-time Fourier transform, and splicing were performed to create time-frequency spectrograms from noise recordings. Two asymmetric convolution kernels then were used to extract these critical features. These features, combined with personal information (e.g., age, length of service) in various configurations, were used as model inputs. The optimal network structure was selected based on the area under the curve (AUC) from 10-fold cross-validation, alongside the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. The proposed model was compared with the support vector machine (SVM) and ISO 1999 models, and the superiority of the new approach was verified by ablation experiments. RESULTS The proposed model had an AUC of 0.7768 ± 0.0223 (mean ± SD), outperforming both the SVM model (AUC: 0.7504 ± 0.0273) and the ISO 1999 model (AUC: 0.5094 ± 0.0071). Wilcoxon signed ranks tests confirmed the significant improvement of the proposed model ( p = 0.0025 compared with ISO 1999, and p = 0.00142 compared with SVM). CONCLUSIONS This study introduced a new NIHL prediction method that provides deeper insights into industrial noise exposure data. The results demonstrated the superior performance of the new model over ISO 1999 and SVM models. By combining time-frequency features and personal information, the proposed approach bridged the gap between conventional noise assessment and machine learning-based methods, effectively improving the ability to protect workers' hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tian
- Engineering Research Center of EMR and Intelligent Expert System, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Haoqi Zhao
- Engineering Research Center of EMR and Intelligent Expert System, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- These authors contributed equally to this study
| | - Peixian Li
- Engineering Research Center of EMR and Intelligent Expert System, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Tianshu Zhou
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wei Qiu
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jingsong Li
- Engineering Research Center of EMR and Intelligent Expert System, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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Duan D, Leng P, Li X, Mao G, Wang A, Zhang D. Characteristics and occupational risk assessment of occupational silica-dust and noise exposure in ferrous metal foundries in Ningbo, China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1049111. [PMID: 36844828 PMCID: PMC9947523 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1049111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction To investigate the major existing occupational hazards and to assess the occupational health risks for ferrous metal foundries (FMFs) in Ningbo, China. Methods Unified questionnaires were formulated to investigate the information on the basic situations, occupational hazards, and occupational health management for 193 FMFs in Ningbo. Furthermore, we used the semi-quantitative risk assessment model, which was developed by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), to assess occupational health risks for 59 of 193 the FMFs. Results The casting process of FMFs in Ningbo was mainly divided into sand casting and investment casting, and silica-dust and noise were the major occupational hazards in both sand casting and investment casting foundries. Silica-dust mainly occurred in industries with such work as sand handling, modeling, falling sand, and sand cleaning, with the median of the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA) was 0.80, 1.15, 3.52, 0.83 mg/m3, respectively. The noise mainly existed in industries with such work as sand handling, core making, falling sand, sand cleaning, cutting and grinding, and smelting with median of PC-TWA was 81.72 dB(A), 82.93 dB(A), 90.75 dB(A), 80.18 dB(A), 90.05 dB(A), 82.70 dB(A), respectively. In addition, the results of the ICMM assessment model indicated that 100 and 98.7% of the jobs exposed to silica-dust and noise in 59 FMFs have an "intolerable risk" level of risks of causing pneumoconiosis and noise deaf, respectively. Discussion The hazard risk of silica-dust and noise is serious for FMFs in Ningbo. It is necessary to supervise enterprises to improve operating environmental conditions, accelerate the reduction of silica-dust and noise exposure risks, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the foundry industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Duan
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China
| | - Pengbo Leng
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaohai Li
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China
| | - Guochuan Mao
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China
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Liu J, Antisdel J, Liu C, Chen M, Dong P, Fahlman R, Ma F, Yu Y. Extensive hearing loss induced by low‐frequency noise exposure. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2022; 7:564-570. [PMID: 35434351 PMCID: PMC9008144 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With little attention given to low‐frequency traffic noise and our understanding that cochlear function may be highly susceptible to low‐frequency noise, there is an urgent need to determine traffic noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL), not only the hearing loss at low frequency but also the possible high‐frequency hearing loss. Methods The current study aims to investigate the potential for extensive hearing loss induced by exposure to 0.063 kHz octave band noise (OBN), which is an important component of low‐frequency traffic noise. The threshold of auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to evaluate hearing function before and after noise exposure. Chinchillas were randomly assigned into seven different groups. Group 63‐3 h/6 h, Group 2 k‐3 h/6 h, and group 4 k‐3 h/6 h were exposed for either 3 or 6 h to 0.063, 2, and 4 kHz OBN at 90 dB SPL, respectively. The control group was not exposed to noise. Results Significant ABR threshold‐shifts (TS) were observed at 0.88, 2, 4, and 5.7 kHz in Group 63‐6 h, and at 2.8 and 4 kHz in Group 2 k‐6 h, and at 5.7 kHz in Group 4 k‐6 h. ABR‐TS were consistent with outer hair cell (OHC) losses, exposure to 0.063 kHz OBN at 90 dB SPL for 6 h induced large‐scale losses of OHC both in low‐ and high‐frequency region. Conclusions Exposure to 0.063 kHz low‐frequency OBN at 90 dB SPL for 6 h leads to significant hearing loss over an extensive range from low to high frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junping Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery, Mindong Hospital The Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University Fuan China
| | - Jastin Antisdel
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery Saint Louis University St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - Changming Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery, Mindong Hospital The Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University Fuan China
| | - Miaoan Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery, Mindong Hospital The Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University Fuan China
| | - Pin Dong
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery The First Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai China
| | - Richard Fahlman
- Faculty of Medicine University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Furong Ma
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery The Third Hospital of Peking University Beijing China
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery, Mindong Hospital The Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University Fuan China
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery Saint Louis University St. Louis Missouri USA
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Wang B, Wan L, Sun P, Zhang L, Han L, Zhang H, Zhang J, Pu Y, Zhu B. Associations of genetic variation in E3 SUMO-protein ligase CBX4 with noise-induced hearing loss. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:2109-2120. [PMID: 35038734 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a multifactorial disease caused by environmental, genetic, and epigenetic variables. SUMOylation is a post-translational modification that regulates biological processes. The objective of this study was to determine the link between genetic variation in the CBX4 and the risk of NIHL. This study applied a case-control design with 588 cases and 582 controls, and the sample was predominantly male (93.76%). The T allele of CBX4 rs1285250 was found to be significantly linked with NIHL (p = 0.002) and showed strong associations in both the codominant and recessive models (TT vs CC, p = 0.005; TT/TC vs CC, p = 0.009). By constructing a mouse model of hearing loss due to noise exposure, changes in hearing thresholds were observed in noise-exposed mice, along with a decrease in the number of cochlear hair cells. Furthermore, noise promotes cochlear hair cell apoptosis by inducing SP1/CBX4 pathway activation. Further functional studies demonstrated that SP1 has an influence on the promoter activity of the CBX4 rs1285250 intron, with the promoter activity of the T allele being higher than that of the C allele. Knockdown of transcription factor SP1 reduced the expression of CBX4 expression and simultaneously reduced apoptosis in HEI-OC1 cells. Together, our findings have shown that CBX4 genetic polymorphism rs1285250 T-allele was associated with increased risk of NIHL and might be used as biomarkers for male workers exposed to noise. Furthermore, we speculate that the CBX4 of rs1285250 T-allele leads to a stronger potential enhancer activity from a predicted gain of stronger SP1 binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boshen Wang
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liu Wan
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ludi Zhang
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Han
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Preventive Medicine Association, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hengdong Zhang
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Preventive Medicine Association, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuepu Pu
- Department of Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Baoli Zhu
- Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Preventive Medicine Association, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu, China
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Pan DW, Choi JS, Hokan A, Doherty JK. Trends in Hearing Protection Use With Occupational Noise Exposure in the United States 1999 to 2016. Otol Neurotol 2022; 43:e14-e22. [PMID: 34510117 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000003343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Determine hearing protection use in relation to occupational noise exposure, tinnitus, and audiometry-measured hearing loss in the United States from 1999 to 2016. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study utilizing US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2016 with occupation, reported occupational noise exposure, hearing protection use, tinnitus, and audiometry-measured hearing loss data. Subgroup analysis divided data into two cohorts early 2000s and 2010s. SETTING Population-based study using NHANES database capturing representative sample of US population. PARTICIPANTS Individuals with complete data 1999 to 2004 (n = 10,347) and 2011 to 2012 with 2015 to 2016 (n = 9,383). INTERVENTIONS Participants self-reported occupational noise exposure lasting more than 4 h/d for more than 3 months. Self-reported hearing protective device uses and tinnitus frequency. Audiometric hearing loss objectively measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hearing protection use. Secondary measures included self-reported bothersome tinnitus and audiometrically measured hearing loss. RESULTS Across occupations, reported occupational noise exposure was higher in 2010s [32%, 95% CI: 29.6-34.6%] than 2000s [12.5%, 95% CI: 11.2-13.9%], while hearing protection use remained low in 2000s [41.3%, 95% CI: 37.8-44.8%] and 2010s [32.8%, 95% CI: 29.8-35.8%]. Less hearing protection use was associated with absence of bothersome tinnitus. Factors associated with increased hearing protection use were younger age, male sex, college education or higher, and white race in a multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS Reported occupational noise exposure appeared to increase from 2000s to 2010s yet hearing protection use remained stable at low use rate. As noise exposure is a major risk factor for hearing loss, significant education and reinforcement of appropriate hearing protection use for workplace noise exposures is necessary to preserve workers' hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy W Pan
- Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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Wang Y, Ye C, Wang D, Li C, Wang S, Li J, Wu J, Wang X, Xu L. Construction and Evaluation of a High-Frequency Hearing Loss Screening Tool for Community Residents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312311. [PMID: 34886032 PMCID: PMC8657277 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Early screening and detection of individuals at high risk of high-frequency hearing loss and identification of risk factors are critical to reduce the prevalence at community level. However, unlike those for individuals facing occupational auditory hazards, a limited number of hearing loss screening models have been developed for community residents. Therefore, this study used lasso regression with 10-fold cross-validation for feature selection and model construction on 38 questionnaire-based variables of 4010 subjects and applied the model to training and testing cohorts to obtain a risk score. The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.844 in the model validation stage and individuals’ risk scores were subsequently stratified into low-, medium-, and high-risk categories. A total of 92.79% (1094/1179) of subjects in the high-risk category were confirmed to have hearing loss by audiometry test, which was 3.7 times higher than that in the low-risk group (25.18%, 457/1815). Half of the key indicators were related to modifiable contexts, and they were identified as significantly associated with the incident hearing loss. These results demonstrated that the developed model would be feasible to identify residents at high risk of hearing loss via regular community-level health examinations and detecting individualized risk factors, and eventually provide precision interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Liangwen Xu
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-0571-2886-5510
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Epidemiological characteristics of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) associated with non-Gaussian noise are still unclear and have been rarely reported in the literature. METHODS The relationships between non-Gaussian noise exposure and occupational NIHL were analyzed based on the published papers. Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies were performed. RESULTS Of 78 epidemiological studies (47,814 workers) selected, there were seven cohort studies and 71 cross-sectional studies. The incidence of high-frequency NIHL (HFNIHL) and speech-frequency NIHL (SFNIHL) in the seven cohort studies was 10.9 and 2.9%, respectively. In 71 cross-sectional studies, the prevalence of HFNIHL and SFNIHL was 34.2 and 18.9%, respectively. The average hearing threshold level at the high frequencies was 42.1 ± 17.4 dB HL. Workers exposed to non-Gaussian noise had a higher risk of developing HFNIHL than those not exposed to noise (overall-weighted odds ratio [OR] = 4.46) or those exposed to Gaussian noise (overall-weighted OR = 2.20). The Chi-square trend test demonstrated that the prevalence of HFNIHL was positively correlated with age, cumulative noise exposure, and exposure duration (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Workers exposed to non-Gaussian noise suffered from greater NIHL than those exposed to Gaussian noise or not exposed to noise. Age, exposure duration, noise level, and noise temporal structure were the main risk factors for occupational NIHL. The A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq) is not a sufficient measurement metric for quantifying non-Gaussian noise exposure, and a combination of kurtosis and noise energy metrics (e.g., LAeq) should be used. It is necessary to reduce the exposure of non-Gaussian noise to protect the hearing health of workers.
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Li W, Yi G, Chen Z, Wu J, Lu Z, Liang J, Mao G, Yao Y, Wang D. Association of occupational noise exposure, bilateral hearing loss with hypertension among Chinese workers. J Hypertens 2021; 39:643-650. [PMID: 33093308 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship of occupational noise, bilateral hearing loss with blood pressure and hypertension among a Chinese population. METHODS We included 15 422 individuals from a cross-sectional survey of the key occupational diseases in 2017 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Occupational noise exposure was evaluated through workplace noise level and/or the job titles. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average of 25 dB or higher at speech frequency (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) or high frequency (3, 4, 6 kHz) in both ears. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure at least 140/90 mmHg or self-reported current use of antihypertensive medication. RESULTS Compared with participants without occupational noise exposure, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher for noise exposure duration of 5 to less than 10 years [odds ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.27] and at least 10 years (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.09-1.30). In the sex-specific analysis, the association was significantly pronounced in male (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.06-1.32 for duration of 5 to <10 years; OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.12-1.38 for duration ≥10 years), but not in female (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.80-1.11 for duration of 5 to <10 years; OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.90-1.20 for duration ≥10 years). In the subsample analyses, bilateral hearing loss was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension, no matter for speech frequency hearing loss (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.30 for mild; OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.20-1.50 for severe) or for high-frequency hearing loss (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.03-1.50 for mild; OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.80-3.17 for severe). The sex-subgroup analysis of hearing loss with hypertension was similar as occupational noise and hypertension. CONCLUSION Our study has suggested occupational noise exposure is a potential risk factor for hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhen Li
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Guilin Yi
- Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases
| | - Zhenlong Chen
- Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases
| | - Jie Wu
- Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases
| | - Zuxun Lu
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Jiaojun Liang
- Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases
| | - Geshi Mao
- Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases
| | - Yong Yao
- Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases
| | - Dongming Wang
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Hong J, Kang H, An J, Choi J, Hong T, Park HS, Lee DE. Towards environmental sustainability in the local community: Future insights for managing the hazardous pollutants at construction sites. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 403:123804. [PMID: 33264906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although various technologies are being developed in the construction industry, management technologies for achieving environmental sustainability in the local community are still lacking. As such, this study suggests future insights for the development of an automated intelligent environment management system for the promotion of environmental sustainability in the local community, through a systematic review of 1,707 relevant literature. The systematic review was conducted in two steps: (i) quantitative review: keyword co-occurrence and trend analysis; and (ii) qualitative review: a review on monitoring, evaluation, and improvement technologies. As a result, the research level related to the local-level pollutants (noise, vibration, and dust) was found to be quantitatively insufficient, and the limitations of the existing technologies for these pollutants were presented. Eventually, to overcome these limitations, new technologies and application strategies that can be applied to construction sites as future research roadmap to effectively manage the hazardous pollutants were proposed. Furthermore, an intelligent management system should be developed, and the management of environmental complaints is also necessary for environmental sustainability at the local level in the construction industry. As a fundamental study, this study could become a benchmark for future researches dealing with environmental sustainability and hazardous pollutants in the construction industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juwon Hong
- Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyuna Kang
- Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jongbaek An
- Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jinwoo Choi
- Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taehoon Hong
- Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyo Seon Park
- Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Eun Lee
- School of Arch, Civil, Environment, and Energy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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Silva VARD, Guimarães AC, Duarte ASM, Lavinsky J, Castilho AM, Chone CT, Crespo AN. Is it necessary to perform occupational audiometric testing at 6-months of employment? Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 88:891-895. [PMID: 33663974 PMCID: PMC9615527 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Current Brazilian legislation requires that all workers exposed to noise are to be given an audiogram upon hiring, after 6 months of employment (first periodic test), and annually after the first periodic test. In other countries, the regulations of hearing conservation programs do not include the requirement for audiometric testing at 6 months of employment, but only annually. There is no evidence that the periodicity adopted by Brazilian legislation is the most appropriate. Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the first 3 occupational audiometric tests of workers exposed to noise. Methods Historical cohort study with cross-sectional analysis. Participants were all male metallurgy workers aged up to 40 years. The first 3 audiograms of each worker were analyzed: pre-employment audiometric test, periodic audiometric test 1, and periodic audiometric test 2. For each worker, mean frequency thresholds were calculated at 3, 4, and 6 kHz in the left and right ears for each test. Statistical analysis was performed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon test. Results A total of 988 workers were included. There was a significant difference in auditory thresholds between the pre-employment test and the 2 subsequent periodic tests for the right and left ears. There was no significant difference between Test1 and Test2 in either ear. Conclusion Given the lack of difference between the first 2 periodic tests, we believe that they could be merged into a single test, i.e., first periodic audiometric testing could be performed at 12 months of employment without compromising workers’ health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vagner Antonio Rodrigues da Silva
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Caixeta Guimarães
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Scalli Mathias Duarte
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Joel Lavinsky
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Departamento de Cirurgia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Arthur Menino Castilho
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos Takahiro Chone
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Agricio Nubiato Crespo
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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Priddle H, Pickup S, Hayes C. Occupational health issues experienced by UK embryologists: informing improvements in clinical reproductive science practice. HUM FERTIL 2021; 25:608-617. [PMID: 33459106 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2021.1871782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A consultation exercise was undertaken with UK embryologists to construct knowledge of the occupational health issues they experience in everyday practice. Data were obtained from 223 eligible survey responses. Work-related ill health was self-reported by 58.3% of respondents, 76.2% of whom reported multiple issues. The most frequently disclosed ill-health conditions were musculoskeletal disorders (45.3%) and stress and mental health problems (27.8%). Other issues with an incidence above 3% were ocular and auditory problems and needlestick and liquid nitrogen injuries. Shoulder injury or pain correspondingly increased in incidence with length of time in service. Absence from work and/or light duties were necessitated for 34.5% of those affected. Assessment of the evidence base for these work-related ill-health conditions explored contributory and ameliorating factors, which enabled a series of evidence-based recommendations to be formulated via the adoption of a GRADE-based framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Pickup
- School of Psychology, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK
| | - Catherine Hayes
- School of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK.,Visiting Professor, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, UK
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Chen KH, Su SB, Chen KT. An overview of occupational noise-induced hearing loss among workers: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and preventive measures. Environ Health Prev Med 2020; 25:65. [PMID: 33129267 PMCID: PMC7603754 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-020-00906-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world. The goal of this study was to review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and preventive measures of ONIHL among workers and provide evidence for the implementation of control measures. Literature studies were identified from the MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the search terms “noise-induced hearing loss” “prevalence”, “pathogenesis”, and “preventive measures”. The articles reviewed in this report were limited from 2000 to 2020. Articles that were not published in the English language, manuscripts without an abstract, and opinion articles were excluded. After a preliminary screening, all of the articles were reviewed and synthesized to provide an overview of the current status of ONIHL among workers. The mechanism of ONIHL among workers is a complex interaction between environmental and host factors (both genetic and acquired factors). The outcomes of noise exposure are different among individual subjects. Clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the treatment effect of antioxidants on ONIHL. Noise exposure may contribute to temporary or permanent threshold shifts; however, even temporary threshold shifts may predispose an individual to eventual permanent hearing loss. Noise prevention programs are an important preventive measure in reducing the morbidity of ONIHL among workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kou-Huang Chen
- School of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Sanming University, Sanming, 365, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shih-Bin Su
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, 710, Taiwan
| | - Kow-Tong Chen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital (managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), No. 670, Chongde Road, East District, Tainan, 701, Taiwan. .,Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
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Keefe AR, Demers PA, Neis B, Arrandale VH, Davies HW, Gao Z, Hedges K, Holness DL, Koehoorn M, Stock SR, Bornstein S. A scoping review to identify strategies that work to prevent four important occupational diseases. Am J Ind Med 2020; 63:490-516. [PMID: 32227359 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite being largely preventable, many occupational diseases continue to be highly prevalent and extremely costly. Effective strategies are required to reduce their human, economic, and social impacts. METHODS To better understand which approaches are most likely to lead to progress in preventing noise-related hearing loss, occupational contact dermatitis, occupational cancers, and occupational asthma, we undertook a scoping review and consulted with a number of key informants. RESULTS We examined a total of 404 articles and found that various types of interventions are reported to contribute to occupational disease prevention but each has its limitations and each is often insufficient on its own. Our principal findings included: legislation and regulations can be an effective means of primary prevention, but their impact depends on both the nature of the regulations and the degree of enforcement; measures across the hierarchy of controls can reduce the risk of some of these diseases and reduce exposures; monitoring, surveillance, and screening are effective prevention tools and for evaluating the impact of legislative/policy change; the effect of education and training is context-dependent and influenced by the manner of delivery; and, multifaceted interventions are often more effective than ones consisting of a single activity. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review identifies occupational disease prevention strategies worthy of further exploration by decisionmakers and stakeholders and of future systematic evaluation by researchers. It also identified important gaps, including a lack of studies of precarious workers and the need for more studies that rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya R. Keefe
- SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research, Memorial University St. John's Newfoundland Canada
| | - Paul A. Demers
- Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Care Ontario Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Barbara Neis
- SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research, Memorial University St. John's Newfoundland Canada
| | | | - Hugh W. Davies
- Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Zhiwei Gao
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of MedicineMemorial University St. John's Newfoundland Canada
| | - Kevin Hedges
- Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - D. Linn Holness
- Department of Medicine and Public Health SciencesSt. Michael's Hospital/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mieke Koehoorn
- Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Population and Public HealthUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Susan R. Stock
- Division of Biological Risks and Occupational HealthInstitut national de santé publique du Québec (Quebec Institute of Public Health) Montreal Quebec Canada
- Department of Social and Preventive MedicineSchool of Public Health, Université de Montreal Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Stephen Bornstein
- SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research, Memorial University St. John's Newfoundland Canada
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Zaw AK, Myat AM, Thandar M, Htun YM, Aung TH, Tun KM, Han ZM. Assessment of Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss Among Workers in Textile Mill (Thamine), Myanmar: A Cross-Sectional Study. Saf Health Work 2020; 11:199-206. [PMID: 32596016 PMCID: PMC7303531 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In a wide range of industries, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prevalent occupational problems. This study aimed to assess the noise exposure level and associated factors of hearing loss among textile workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December 2018. In total, 226 workers who were randomly selected from 3 weaving sections participated in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A digital sound level meter and pure-tone audiometer were used for the assessment of noise exposure level and hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of hearing loss. Results In total workers, 66.4% were exposed to ≥85 dB(A) of noise exposure, and the prevalence of hearing loss was 25.7%. Age ≥35 years, below high school education, hearing difficulty, tinnitus, hypertension, > 9 years of service duration in a textile mill were positively associated with hearing loss. After adjusting confounding factors, age ≥35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.90, 95% confidence interval = 3.45-13.82) and tinnitus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-7.37) were persistently associated with hearing loss. Conclusion Providing occupational hazard education and enforcement of occupational safety regulations should be taken to decrease the noise exposure level. The regular audiometry test should be conducted for assessment of hearing threshold shift. The employer needs to implement a hearing conservation program in workplace when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) for 8 hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aung K Zaw
- Department of Research and Development, Defence Services Medical School, Hmawbi, Myanmar
| | - Aung M Myat
- Occupational Health and Environmental Division, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Mya Thandar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Public Health, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Ye M Htun
- Department of Prevention and Research Development of Hepatitis, AIDS and Other Viral Diseases, Health and Disease Control Unit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Than H Aung
- Department of Health Promotion, Health and Disease Control Unit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Kyaw M Tun
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Defence Services Medical Academy, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Zaw M Han
- Defence Services Liver Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar
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Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss among Brewery Workers in Lagos, Nigeria. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17082880. [PMID: 32331286 PMCID: PMC7216167 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The health risks of exposure to loud noises are a well-established fact and are widely addressed in modern industries. Yet, in less developed countries, it is thought these hazards receive less attention, both in the workplace and in private life. (1) Background: The aim of this study is to assess the occupational noise exposure in a developing country and identify possible risk groups for whom intervention is needed. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among brewery employees in Lagos, Nigeria. Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was performed, paired with a self-report questionnaire. Personal noise dosimetry (PND) was also performed with an additional group of participants. (3) Results: A total of 458 employees were submitted to PTA. The Packaging and Utilities department reported the largest shifts in hearing thresholds (18 dB [sd = 15] and 16 dB [sd = 15] @4kHz, respectively). No significant effect of department type on auditory health could be found. PND results were obtained from 39 employees. Packaging and Sales were identified as the most exposed departments. (4) Conclusions: A healthy hearing profile was found for a large proportion of the brewery employees (91.7%). However, NIHL (noise-induced hearing loss) proportions specifically among Bottling and Sales employees were elevated.
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Silva VAR, Guimarães AC, Lavinsky J, Pauna HF, Castilho AM, Crespo AN. Effect of Noise Exposure on 1,382 Metallurgical Workers in Periodic Audiometric Evaluation: A Cohort Study. Audiol Neurootol 2020; 25:309-314. [PMID: 32316010 DOI: 10.1159/000506894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Noise-induced hearing loss is the most preventable cause of auditory impairment. Periodic audiometric evaluations are essential to monitor the hearing health of noise-exposed workers. OBJECTIVE To compare the evolution of audiometric thresholds in the initial three evaluations at frequencies of 3, 4, and 6 kHz in groups of workers exposed or not to noise. METHODS In this historical cohort study, audiometric evaluations were obtained from male workers between 18 and 40 years of age at six different metallurgical companies in Brazil. The workers were separated into noise-exposed and non-noise-exposed groups. The mean thresholds for 3, 4, and 6 kHz were calculated for both ears at baseline and the first and second periodic evaluations. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 1,382 metallurgical workers were evaluated (1,199 noise-exposed and 183 non-noise-exposed). There was a significant difference between baseline and the first periodic evaluation (right ear - effect size = 0.62; p = 0.0030 and left ear - effect size = 0.74; p = 0.0063) and between baseline and the second periodic evaluation (right ear - effect size = 0.85; p = 0.004 and left ear - effect size = 0.96; p = 0.0002). In the non-noise-exposed group, there was no difference between baseline and the first periodic evaluation (right ear - effect size = 0.18; p = 0.2703 and left ear - effect size = 0.12; p = 0.7907) and between baseline and the second periodic evaluation (right ear - effect size = 0.29; p = 0.4475 and left ear - effect size = 0.41; p = 0.6381). CONCLUSION In noise-exposed workers, there was a significant worsening of audiometric thresholds between baseline and the initial periodic evaluation, but there was no difference between the two post-baseline evaluations. This shows that noise exposure can quickly affect hearing, despite protective measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vagner Antonio Rodrigues Silva
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil,
| | - Alexandre Caixeta Guimarães
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Joel Lavinsky
- Postgraduate Program in Surgical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Henrique Furlan Pauna
- Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Arthur Menino Castilho
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Agrício Nubiato Crespo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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Knewitz AP, Simpson MC, Harris DA, Sappington JM, Osazuwa-Peters N. Sociodemographic correlates of occupational, recreational and firearm noise exposure among adults in the USA. J Laryngol Otol 2020; 134:1-7. [PMID: 32014072 DOI: 10.1017/s0022215120000134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine sociodemographic factors associated with occupational, recreational and firearm-related noise exposure. METHODS This nationally representative, multistage, stratified, cluster cross-sectional study sampled eligible National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants aged 20-69 years (n = 4675) about exposure to occupational and recreational noise and recurrent firearm usage, using a weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Thirty-four per cent of participants had exposure to occupational noise and 12 per cent to recreational noise, and 13 per cent repeatedly used firearms. Males were more likely than females to have exposure to all three noise types (adjusted odds ratio range = 2.63-14.09). Hispanics and Asians were less likely to have exposure to the three noise types than Whites. Blacks were less likely than Whites to have occupational and recurrent firearm noise exposure. Those with insurance were 26 per cent less likely to have exposure to occupational noise than those without insurance (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74, 95 per cent confidence interval = 0.60-0.93). CONCLUSION Whites, males and uninsured people are more likely to have exposure to potentially hazardous loud noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Knewitz
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
| | - M C Simpson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
| | - D A Harris
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
| | - J M Sappington
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
| | - N Osazuwa-Peters
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA
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Machine Learning Models for the Hearing Impairment Prediction in Workers Exposed to Complex Industrial Noise: A Pilot Study. Ear Hear 2019; 40:690-699. [PMID: 30142102 PMCID: PMC6493679 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000000649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: To demonstrate the feasibility of developing machine learning models for the prediction of hearing impairment in humans exposed to complex non-Gaussian industrial noise. Design: Audiometric and noise exposure data were collected on a population of screened workers (N = 1,113) from 17 factories located in Zhejiang province, China. All the subjects were exposed to complex noise. Each subject was given an otologic examination to determine their pure-tone hearing threshold levels and had their personal full-shift noise recorded. For each subject, the hearing loss was evaluated according to the hearing impairment definition of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Age, exposure duration, equivalent A-weighted SPL (LAeq), and median kurtosis were used as the input for four machine learning algorithms, that is, support vector machine, neural network multilayer perceptron, random forest, and adaptive boosting. Both classification and regression models were developed to predict noise-induced hearing loss applying these four machine learning algorithms. Two indexes, area under the curve and prediction accuracy, were used to assess the performances of the classification models for predicting hearing impairment of workers. Root mean square error was used to quantify the prediction performance of the regression models. Results: A prediction accuracy between 78.6 and 80.1% indicated that the four classification models could be useful tools to assess noise-induced hearing impairment of workers exposed to various complex occupational noises. A comprehensive evaluation using both the area under the curve and prediction accuracy showed that the support vector machine model achieved the best score and thus should be selected as the tool with the highest potential for predicting hearing impairment from the occupational noise exposures in this study. The root mean square error performance indicated that the four regression models could be used to predict noise-induced hearing loss quantitatively and the multilayer perceptron regression model had the best performance. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that machine learning algorithms are potential tools for the evaluation and prediction of noise-induced hearing impairment in workers exposed to diverse complex industrial noises.
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Garcia SL, Smith KJ, Palmer C. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Military Hearing Conservation Program. Mil Med 2019; 183:e547-e553. [PMID: 29425310 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usx112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Occupational noise threatens U.S. worker health and safety and commands a significant financial burden on state and federal government worker compensation programs. Previous studies suggest that hearing conservation programs have contributed to reduced occupational hearing loss for noise-exposed workers. Many military personnel are overexposed to noise and are provided hearing conservation services. Select military branches require all active duty personnel to follow hearing conservation program guidelines, regardless of individual noise exposure. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a military hearing conservation program, relative to no intervention, in relation to cases of hearing loss prevented. METHODS We employed cost-effectiveness analytic methods to compare the costs and effectiveness, in terms of hearing loss cases prevented, of a military hearing conservation program relative to no program. We used costs and probability estimates available in the literature and publicly available sources. The effectiveness of the interventions was analyzed based on whether hearing loss occurred over a 20-yr time frame. RESULTS The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the hearing conservation program compared with no intervention was $10,657 per case of hearing loss prevented. Workers were 28% less likely to sustain hearing loss in our model when they received the hearing conservation program compared with no intervention, which reflected the greater effectiveness of the hearing conservation program. Cost-effectiveness results were sensitive to estimated values for the probability of acquiring hearing loss from both interventions and the cost of hearing protection. We performed a Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis where we simultaneously varied all the model parameters to their extreme plausible bounds. When we ran 10,000 Monte Carlo iterations, we observed that the hearing conservation program was more cost-effective in 99% of cases when decision makers were willing to pay $64,172 per case of hearing loss prevented. CONCLUSIONS Conceding a lifetime cost for service-related compensation for hearing loss per individual of $64,172, the Department of Defense Hearing Conservation Program is an economically reasonable program relative to no intervention, if a case of hearing loss avoided costs $10,657. Considering the net difference of the costs and comparative benefits of both treatment strategies, providing a hearing conservation program for all active duty military workers may be a cost-effective intervention for the Department of Defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth L Garcia
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, 4028 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Kenneth J Smith
- Department of Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Meyran Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Catherine Palmer
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, 4028 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 203 Lothrop Street, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA
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The Influence of Occupational Noise Exposure on Cardiovascular and Hearing Conditions among Industrial Workers. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11524. [PMID: 31395914 PMCID: PMC6687890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47901-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to estimate the current prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular condition and hearing difficulty of workers exposure to occupational noise, and to analyze any associations between these abnormal signs and occupational noise exposure. The subjects included 5205 noise-exposed workers. Workers with high noise exposure were more likely to have a higher threshold value than low exposure ones (P < 0.05). Subjects in the high exposure group had a significantly higher risk of hypertension and hearing loss than the ones in low exposure group. Between the ages of 30 and 45, high-level occupational noise exposure led to a significantly raising risk of both hypertension (Adjusted OR = 1.59, 95% CI, 1.19-2.11) and hearing loss (Adjusted OR = 1.28, 95% CI, 1.03-1.60) when comparing to low-level noise exposure. In male workers, the prevalence of hearing difficulty in high exposure group was approximately 1.2 times worse than in low group (P = 0.006). In addition, exposure to high noise level demonstrated a significant association with hypertension and hearing loss when the duration time to occupational noise was longer than 10 years. Hypertension and hearing difficulty is more prevalent in the noise-exposed group (higher than 85 dB[A]). Steps to reduce workplace noise levels and to improve workplace-based health are thus urgently needed.
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García L, Parra L, Gomis BP, Cavallé L, Pérez Guillén V, Pérez Garrigues H, Lloret J. Valencia's Cathedral Church Bell Acoustics Impact on the Hearing Abilities of Bell Ringers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091564. [PMID: 31060256 PMCID: PMC6540155 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Studies on the effect of occupational noise have been widely performed for occupations such as construction workers, workers of factories or even musicians and workers of nightclubs. However, studies on the acoustics of church bells are very scarce and usually reported in languages other than English. In Spain, although the tradition of bell ringers is progressively getting lost, some bell ringers that continue transmitting the tradition remain. Church bells create sound with a large sound pressure level that can be heard from a great distance. However, despite the characteristics of the sound of church bells, bell ringers do not present symptoms of occupational hearing loss unlike musicians and construction workers. To determine the effects of the sound of the church bells on bell ringers, in this paper, an acoustic study of the church bells and a physiological study of the hearing abilities of bell ringers. Results show sound pressure levels reaching 120 dB inside the bell tower. The resulting hearing loss in bell ringers is small considering the great intensity of the sound produced by the bells. This is likely due to the short amount of time that bell ringers are exposed to the sound even if it reaches high sound pressure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura García
- Instituto de Investigación para la Gestión Integrada de zonas Costeras, Universitat Politècnica de València, C/Paranimf 1, Grau de Gandia, 46730 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Lorena Parra
- Instituto de Investigación para la Gestión Integrada de zonas Costeras, Universitat Politècnica de València, C/Paranimf 1, Grau de Gandia, 46730 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Blanca Pastor Gomis
- Sección de Otoneurología del Hospital Universitario La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Laura Cavallé
- Sección de Otoneurología del Hospital Universitario La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vanesa Pérez Guillén
- Sección de Otoneurología del Hospital Universitario La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain.
| | | | - Jaime Lloret
- Instituto de Investigación para la Gestión Integrada de zonas Costeras, Universitat Politècnica de València, C/Paranimf 1, Grau de Gandia, 46730 Valencia, Spain.
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Regulation of Noise-Induced Loss of Serotonin Transporters with Resveratrol in a Rat Model Using 4-[ 18F]-ADAM/Small-Animal Positron Emission Tomography. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24071344. [PMID: 30959762 PMCID: PMC6480549 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) plays a crucial role in modulating the afferent fiber discharge rate in the inferior colliculus, auditory cortex, and other nuclei of the ascending auditory system. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol phytoalexin, can inhibit serotonin transporters (SERT) to increase synaptic 5-HT levels. In this study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on noise-induced damage in the serotonergic system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized and exposed to an 8-kHz tone at 116 dB for 3.5 h. Resveratrol (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection [IP]) and citalopram (20 mg/kg, IP), a specific SERT inhibitor used as a positive control, were administered once a day for four consecutive days, with the first treatment occurring 2 days before noise exposure. Auditory brainstem response testing and positron emission tomography (PET) with N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-amino-4-[18F]fluorophenylthio)benzylamine (4-[18F]-ADAM, a specific radioligand for SERT) were used to evaluate functionality of the auditory system and integrity of the serotonergic system, respectively, before and after noise exposure. Finally, immunohistochemistry was performed 1 day after the last PET scan. Our results indicate that noise-induced serotonergic fiber loss occurred in multiple brain regions including the midbrain, thalamus, hypothalamus, striatum, auditory cortex, and frontal cortex. This noise-induced damage to the serotonergic system was ameliorated in response to treatment with resveratrol and citalopram. However, noise exposure increased the hearing threshold in the rats regardless of drug treatment status. We conclude that resveratrol has protective effects against noise-induced loss of SERT.
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AKINOCAL F, OCAL R, ADSIZ G, BELGIN E. Noise-related Hearing Loss in Workers of a Thermal Reactor. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 46:858-859. [PMID: 28828333 PMCID: PMC5558084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F.Ceyda AKINOCAL
- Dept. of ENT, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ramazan OCAL
- Dept. of ENT, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey,Corresponding Author:
| | - Gulsun ADSIZ
- Dept. of Audiology, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey
| | - Erol BELGIN
- Dept. of Audiology, School of Medicine, Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Lurati AR. A Return to Work Program for an Employee With Resolving Vertigo. Workplace Health Saf 2017; 65:4-8. [PMID: 28055516 DOI: 10.1177/2165079916680214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Vertigo is a disorder that affects equilibrium. Symptoms include a loss of balance with nausea and vomiting. Employees diagnosed with vertigo can return to work safely; however, they may need workplace restrictions and accommodation as symptoms may persist for months. This article reviews the evaluation and treatment of vertigo with back-to-work recommendations.
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