An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran
BACKGROUND: Unwanted sound is recognized as the most extensive source of contaminant in the workplace. Exposure to intense, continuous, and higher than 85 dB level noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss.The aim of the present study was to determine the level of noise exposure and its impact on...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Education and Health Promotion |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=290;epage=290;aulast=Kakavandi |
| _version_ | 1819239862012739584 |
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| author | Masoud Ghanbari Kakavandi Ali Omidi Amir Hossein Hashemian Mehdi Jabari Arsalan Hamidi Ebadolah Bavandpur Naser Dehghan |
| author_facet | Masoud Ghanbari Kakavandi Ali Omidi Amir Hossein Hashemian Mehdi Jabari Arsalan Hamidi Ebadolah Bavandpur Naser Dehghan |
| author_sort | Masoud Ghanbari Kakavandi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: Unwanted sound is recognized as the most extensive source of contaminant in the workplace. Exposure to intense, continuous, and higher than 85 dB level noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss.The aim of the present study was to determine the level of noise exposure and its impact on hearing health among auto body workers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in 2020 to investigate the hearing health status of workers in auto body workshops. Sixty-one participants were randomly selected for audiometric testing. The equivalent sound level (Leq) of the workers was measured using a Casella CEL-320 noise dosimeter. Audiometric testing was performed using an AC40 audiometer. The mean hearing threshold levels (HTLs) of both ears were calculated for different frequencies. The results obtained were analyzed using SPSS v21.0 at a significance level of 95%.
RESULTS: The participants had an average age of 35.5 ± 11.8 years and an average work experience of 16.5 ± 9.8 years. The mean Leq was 92.3 ± 4.7 dB. The mean HTLs for the right ear and left ear were 20, 15, 17.6, 19.2 dB, respectively with the right ear suffering more loss. A significant relationship was found between hearing loss in both ears (P < 0.001). The highest prevalence of hearing loss in both ears was observed at a frequency of 4 kHz. About 73.8% of the subjects had a normal HTL, 23.3% had mild hearing loss, and 3.3% had severe hearing loss. With increasing work experience, HTLs also increased significantly, particularly at 2–8 kHz.
CONCLUSIONS: Chronic exposure to noise pollution threatens hearing health. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the level of awareness among workers in order to enable better hearing health protection and also to promote the use of hearing protection devices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:58:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-750ce80076c542faa07abd23adfc4bf2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2277-9531 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:58:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education and Health Promotion |
| spelling | doaj.art-750ce80076c542faa07abd23adfc4bf22022-12-21T17:44:23ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312021-01-0110129029010.4103/jehp.jehp_1452_20An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, IranMasoud Ghanbari KakavandiAli OmidiAmir Hossein HashemianMehdi JabariArsalan HamidiEbadolah BavandpurNaser DehghanBACKGROUND: Unwanted sound is recognized as the most extensive source of contaminant in the workplace. Exposure to intense, continuous, and higher than 85 dB level noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss.The aim of the present study was to determine the level of noise exposure and its impact on hearing health among auto body workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in 2020 to investigate the hearing health status of workers in auto body workshops. Sixty-one participants were randomly selected for audiometric testing. The equivalent sound level (Leq) of the workers was measured using a Casella CEL-320 noise dosimeter. Audiometric testing was performed using an AC40 audiometer. The mean hearing threshold levels (HTLs) of both ears were calculated for different frequencies. The results obtained were analyzed using SPSS v21.0 at a significance level of 95%. RESULTS: The participants had an average age of 35.5 ± 11.8 years and an average work experience of 16.5 ± 9.8 years. The mean Leq was 92.3 ± 4.7 dB. The mean HTLs for the right ear and left ear were 20, 15, 17.6, 19.2 dB, respectively with the right ear suffering more loss. A significant relationship was found between hearing loss in both ears (P < 0.001). The highest prevalence of hearing loss in both ears was observed at a frequency of 4 kHz. About 73.8% of the subjects had a normal HTL, 23.3% had mild hearing loss, and 3.3% had severe hearing loss. With increasing work experience, HTLs also increased significantly, particularly at 2–8 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic exposure to noise pollution threatens hearing health. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the level of awareness among workers in order to enable better hearing health protection and also to promote the use of hearing protection devices.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=290;epage=290;aulast=Kakavandiaudiometryauto body workershearing threshold levelsnoisenoise-induced hearing loss |
| spellingShingle | Masoud Ghanbari Kakavandi Ali Omidi Amir Hossein Hashemian Mehdi Jabari Arsalan Hamidi Ebadolah Bavandpur Naser Dehghan An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran Journal of Education and Health Promotion audiometry auto body workers hearing threshold levels noise noise-induced hearing loss |
| title | An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_full | An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_fullStr | An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_short | An assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_sort | assessment of noise exposure and hearing health status among auto body workers in kermanshah iran |
| topic | audiometry auto body workers hearing threshold levels noise noise-induced hearing loss |
| url | http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=290;epage=290;aulast=Kakavandi |
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