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Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
The dose-response relationship between in-ear occupational noise exposure and hearing loss
Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), v 70(10), pp 716-721
01 Oct 2013
PMID: 23825197
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objectives
Current understanding of the dose-response relationship between occupational noise and hearing loss is based on cross-sectional studies prior to the widespread use of hearing protection, and with limited data regarding noise exposures below 85 dBA. We report on the hearing loss experience of a unique cohort of industrial workers, with daily monitoring of noise inside of hearing protection devices.
Methods
At an industrial facility, workers exhibiting accelerated hearing loss were enrolled in a mandatory programme to monitor daily noise exposures inside of hearing protection. We compared these noise measurements (as time-weighted L-AVG) to interval rates of high-frequency hearing loss over a 6-year period using a mixed-effects model, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
Workers' high-frequency hearing levels at study inception averaged more than 40 dB Hearing threshold level (HTL). Most noise exposures were less than 85 dBA (mean L-AVG 76 dBA, IQR 74-80 dBA). We found no statistical relationship between LAvg and high-frequency hearing loss (p=0.53). Using a metric for monthly maximum noise exposure did not improve model fit.
Conclusions
At-ear noise exposures below 85 dBA did not show an association with risk of high-frequency hearing loss among workers with substantial past noise exposure and hearing loss at baseline. Therefore, effective noise control to below 85 dBA may lead to significant reduction in occupational hearing loss risk in such individuals. Further research is needed on the dose-response relationship of noise and hearing loss in individuals with normal hearing and little prior noise exposure.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- The dose-response relationship between in-ear occupational noise exposure and hearing loss
- Creators
- Peter M. Rabinowitz - Yale UniversityDeron Galusha - Yale UniversityChristine Dixon-Ernst - Alcoa (United States)Jane E. Clougherty - University of PittsburghRichard L. Neitzel - University of Michigan
- Publication Details
- Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), v 70(10), pp 716-721
- Publisher
- Bmj Publishing Group
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- R01OH008641 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA; National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) R01AG026291 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA) 1 R01 OH008641-01A2 / CDC/NIOSH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA; National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Drexel University; Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000324421200008
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84884586293
- Other Identifier
- 991020099918304721
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- Collaboration types
- Industry collaboration
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health