Frontiers in Public Health (Oct 2024)
Occupational epidemiological characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss and the impact of combined exposure to noise and dust on workers’ hearing—a retrospective study
Abstract
IntroductionThe aim of the study was to investigate the occupational epidemiological characteristics of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers through a cross-sectional study and to explore the impact of combined noise and dust exposure on workers’ hearing loss through a longitudinal study.ResultsThis cross-sectional study revealed that the risk of speech-frequency hearing loss increases with age (OR = 1.096, 95%CI = 1.081–1.111). Independent factors influencing high-frequency hearing loss include sex, age, hazardous factors, industry category, and enterprise size. Scientific research and technical services (OR = 1.607, 95%CI = 1.111–2.324), wholesale and retail (OR = 2.144, 95%CI = 1.479–3.107), manufacturing (OR = 1.907, 95%CI = 1.429–2.545), and other industries (OR = 1.583, 95%CI = 1.002–2.502) are risk factors for high-frequency hearing loss, whereas being female (OR = 0.297, 95%CI = 0.236–0.373) is a protective factor against high-frequency hearing loss. Independent factors influencing occupational noise-induced hearing loss include sex, working age, hazardous factors, industry category, smoking, and drinking, with the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss increasing with working age (OR = 1.045, 95%CI = 1.031–1.058). Noise and dust work (OR = 1.271, 95%CI = 1.011–1.597), other work (OR = 0.619, 95%CI = 0.479–0.800), manufacturing (OR = 2.085, 95%CI = 1.336–3.254), other industries (OR = 2.063, 95%CI = 1.060–4.012), occasional smokers (OR = 0.863, 95%CI = 0.652–1.142), regular smokers (OR = 1.216, 95% CI = 0.987–1.497), and excessive drinkers (OR = 2.171, 95%CI = 1.476–3.193) are risk factors for occupational noise-induced hearing loss, whereas being female (OR = 0.496, 95%CI = 0.347–0.709) is a protective factor against occupational noise-induced hearing loss. The longitudinal study revealed differences in pure-tone hearing threshold test results at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 3,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz, and 6,000 Hz in both ears before and after enrollment among noise-exposed workers (p < 0.05). Combined noise and dust exposure (OR = 4.660, 95%CI = 1.584–13.711), 1st year (OR = 1.540, 95%CI = 1.128–2.103), 2nd year (OR = 1.994, 95%CI = 1.409–2.821), and 3rd year (OR = 1.628, 95%CI = 1.170–2.264) were risk factors for high-frequency hearing loss.DiscussionCombined noise and dust exposure is a risk factor for occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Additionally, occupational noise-induced hearing loss is influenced by gender, working age, enterprise industry category, smoking, and drinking. Employers should enhance occupational health management and improve workers’ occupational health literacy, with a particular focus on older male workers of long working age, and those with unhealthy habits. Combined exposure to noise and dust may have a synergistic effect on causing high-frequency hearing loss, and comprehensive protective measures should be implemented for workers exposed to both.
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