ORIGINAL PAPER
Do hearing threshold levels in workers of the furniture industry reflect their exposure to noise?
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1
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Zakład Zagrożeń Fizycznych / Department of Physical Hazards)
2
Przychodnia „Mój Lekarz” / Out-Patient Clinic “Mój Lekarz”, Brodnica, Poland
3
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics)
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2016;67(3):337-51
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ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the hearing status of employees of a furniture factory with respect to their exposure
to noise and the presence of additional risk factors of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Material and Methods: Noise
measurements, questionnaire survey and assessment of hearing, using pure tone audiometry, were carried out in 50 male workers,
aged 20–57 years, directly employed in the manufacture of furniture. The actual workers’ hearing threshold levels (HTLs)
were compared with the predictions calculated according to PN-ISO 1999:2000 based on age, gender and noise exposure. Results: Workers under study were exposed to noise at daily noise exposure levels of 82.7–94.8 dB (mean: 90.9 dB) for a period
of 3–14 years. In all subjects, mean HTL at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz did not exceed 25 dB. Nevertheless, high
frequency notches were found in 11% of audiograms. The actual workers’ HTLs at 3000–6000 Hz were similar to those predicted
using PN-ISO 1999:2000. There were statistical significant differences between HTLs in subgroups of people with higher
(> 78 mm Hg) and lower (≤ 78 mm Hg) diastolic blood pressure, smokers and non-smokers, and those working with organic solvents.
Hearing loss was more evident in subjects affected by the additional risk factors specified above. Conclusions: The results
confirm the need to consider, in addition to noise, also some other NIHL risk factors, such as tobacco smoking, elevated blood
pressure, and co-exposure to organic solvents when estimating the risk of NIHL and developing the hearing conservation programs
for workers. Med Pr 2016;67(3):337–351