Measuring method of occupational non-Gaussian noise exposure based on kurtosis adjustment
Yong HU,
Zhihao SHI,
Xiangjing GAO,
Jiarui XIN,
Lifang ZHOU,
Meibian ZHANG
Affiliations
Yong HU
Occupational Health and Radiation Protection Institute, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
Zhihao SHI
School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
Xiangjing GAO
Occupational Health and Radiation Protection Institute, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
Jiarui XIN
School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
Lifang ZHOU
Occupational Health and Radiation Protection Institute, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
Meibian ZHANG
National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
The existing measuring methods of noise exposure on the basis of equal energy hypothesis are applicable to Gaussian noise while not fully applicable to non-Gaussian noise. Studies have shown that temporal structure (kurtosis) combined with noise energy has the potential to quantify non-Gaussian noise exposure effectively. However, there is no unified measuring method adopting this joint metric. In this paper, the measuring method of non-Gaussian noise exposure based on kurtosis adjustment was introduced, detailing measurement indicators, adjustment schemes, applicable objects, instrument requirements, and measurement steps. Adjusting the exposure duration of cumulative noise exposure (CNE) by kurtosis or adjusting the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq) by an adjustment coefficient based on animal or population studies can more accurately quantify workers' exposure to non-Gaussian noise and improve the underestimation of hearing loss caused by non-Gaussian noise. A large number of population studies are warranted in the future to verify the effectiveness of these two adjustment schemes.
