Statistical estimation of noise induced hearing loss among the drivers in one of the most polluted cities of India (original) (raw)
Related papers
A recap of exposure to road traffic noise and hearing loss
2018
Rapid modernization and urbanization has resulted in to elevation of noise pollution bar, subsequently having deleterious effects on human body, especially, impacting the delicate sense of hearing. A good sense of hearing is a fundamental and crucial element for understanding and indulging around the world and to routinely interact with each other. Moreover, ageing also substantially contributes to the weakening and deterioration of peripheral and central auditory system. Extensive exposure to high-level traffic noises is one of the most common cause of hearing loss. NIHL indicates a cumulative and permanent loss of hearing that develops gradually after months or years, due to extensive exposure of highlevels of sound. The audiometric sign of its onset selectively starts at 4000 Hz. This paper surveys significant research work all around and is as of now an eye-opening for researchers to identify this potential threat and may find useful ideas to come up with suitable suggestions fo...
A comprehensive strategy for the assessment of noise exposure and risk of hearing impairment
Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1997
A comprehensive strategy is presented for the evaluation of the daily noise exposure level [i-EX,d 'n dB(A)] and the assessment of the risk of hearing impairment. The nsk is denned as the probability for a worker with a given exposure history to noise to develop a hearing deficit above a given threshold. It is shown that for a given accuracy to be obtained on the risk prediction, the precision required on the Z-EX,d ' s low at levels around 90 dB(A) and increases at higher levels. The strategy uses the concepts of homogeneous group of exposure (HGE) and stationarity interval (S.
Excess risk estimates of hearing impairment of Indian professional drivers
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2009
Noise and vibration are occupational hazards that affect worker health and safety. Prolonged exposure to noisy environment results in hearing loss of the affected individuals. The objective of this study was to estimate an excess risk of hearing impairment of professional drivers in Kolkata city of India. In this study, 90 healthy male subjects of similar age, height and weight were equally sampled in three separate subsamples of 30 subjects each viz. drivers with less than 10 years of occupational noise exposure, drivers with more than 10 years of occupational noise exposure and office workers as control. The audiometric testing of both ears of the selected subjects was conducted at frequencies of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kHz. The average estimated excess risks of hearing impairment of the subjects were calculated from audiometric data using five standard model equations. The hearing threshold levels of office workers at audiometric test frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz did not exceed 25 dB (A) to cause hearing handicap. However, it exceeded 25 dB (A) for professional drivers (<10 years of noise exposure and >10 years of noise exposure). The values of estimated average excess risk indicated that hearing damage of professional drivers was expected to occur sooner at 3 and 4 kHz frequencies than losses at lower frequencies. It was concluded that the occupational hazards of professional driving significantly increased hearing threshold levels of drivers as compared to office workers. Relevance to industry: This study emphasizes the need to periodically check professional driver's hearing to determine their auditory threshold shift or excess risk, especially those working in noisy environments. It highlights an urgent need to take up some interventions to reduce the harmful effect of loud traffic noise to drivers exposed to noisy environment in populated cities.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss Assessment of the Road-Noise Affected People of Dhaka City
Noise is a disturbance to the human environment that is escalating at such a high rate that it will become a major threat to the quality of human lives. In the past thirty years, noise in all areas especially in urban areas has been increasing rapidly. There are numerous effects on the human environment due to the increase in noise pollution. Our study area was Shahbag in Dhaka city. In this paper, the impact of traffic noise on hearing status has described in detail. Our focus group was hawker and shop keeper. Sound pressure level was measured continuously from 9.00am to 12.00pm and 3.00pm to 6.00pm and it was found that the sound pressure level was remained 75-80dB all over the day. We measured the noise pressure level by digital sound level meter (model no: ST-8850) and PTA test was performed by clinical audiometer (model no: AC33). In this paper several measures are proposed to reduce the noise level in this area. PTA test was performed on 29 people (shop keeper-15 and hawker-14) for assessing the status of hearing. We got 3 people (10.34%) whose hearing status decrease permanently for exposing such type of noise for long time. Among them 2 persons was hawker and 1 person was shop keeper. This study revealed the hearing stability of the road-noise affected people of Dhaka city on the basis of a time-distance-intensity complex phenomenon of noise.
International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 2010
This paper studies work exposure for drivers of auto rickshaws in Kolkata, India in a running condition to noise. Since the most negative effects caused by noise exposure are related to the hearing system and it may produce professional deafness or even permanent deafness. It is necessary to assess the noise exposure and to develop mechanisms for studying and proposing preventive solutions for minimizing environmental pollution. Equivalent noise exposures of drivers at work and in-auto noise are evaluated using a precision dosimeter in different areas or locations of various times like summer and rainy seasons etc. Readings were taken in different routes in north Kolkata, India and the noise doses are analyzed. The A-weighted values of Leq (12), L10, L90, TWA (Time weighted Average) and TNI (Traffic Noise Index) are determined. It shows significant effect of noise exposure from auto-rickshaws in Kolkata city of India.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2003
Four noise monitoring sites were strategically established to evaluate average noise level and audiometric assessment at various traffic zones of Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). During the monitoring period, noise levels were found to be 72.8–83.0 dBA during day time and 59.5–74.5 dBA during night time. The finding also indicated that traffic noise levels depend on distance from roadside, diurnal variation and character of the traffic and street configuration. Audiometric measurement of 4000 persons was carried by four major hospitals in Bangkok to study the relationship between traffic noise exposure of groups of people working in the streets and hearing loss. Four different categories of occupational people, i.e., drivers, street vendors, traffic officers and dwellers were selected and were further classified into age groups (16–25, 26–35, 36–45 and 46–55 years old) to monitor the traffic noise induced hearing loss throughout their everyday lives. The control group was deliberately chosen to screen out the effects of traffic noise. According to the audiometric investigation, it was revealed that hearing capacity of the daily noise exposure groups living in the three urban sites (Yaowarat Road, Din Daeng Road and Ratchaprarop Road) were noticeably poorer than those who were living in suburban site (Phahonyothin Road). It was noted that the mean hearing threshold level (HTL) of the 16–25 years old groups were found to have better hearing capacity than those older adults of 46–55 years old. In particular the mean HTL dropped at the frequency of 4000 Hz. Among the occupational population who were living in the urban monitoring sites, the driver groups were found to have the highest risk of traffic noise induced hearing loss.
Evaluating the Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Using Different Noise Measurement Criteria
Annals of work exposures and health, 2018
This article examines whether the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) average noise level (LAVG) or the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) equivalent continuous average (LEQ) noise measurement criteria better predict hearing loss. A cohort of construction workers was followed for 10 years (2000-2010), during which time their noise exposures and hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were repeatedly assessed. Linear mixed models were constructed with HTLs as the outcome, either the OSHA (LAVG) or NIOSH (LEQ) measurement criteria as the measure of exposure, and controlling for age, gender, duration of participation, and baseline HTLs (as both a covariate or an additional repeated measure). Model fit was compared between models for HTLs at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz using the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of hearing outcomes predicted by these models were then compared with the hearing outcome...
Madridge Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 2016
Introduction: Excessive noise is an important health hazard at the present time. It can lead to auditory and extra-auditory effects which affect the welfare of individuals and groups exposed. We carried out this study to understand the prevalance of Noise Induced Hearing-Loss (NIHL) in workers of an automobile manufacturing unit in Karachi, Pakistan. Method: The study consisted of the following: 1. Determination of noise levels during different stages of work. 2. A questionnaire regarding subjective hearing loss of the workers; as well as their knowledge, attitude and behavior regarding excessive noise. 3. Tympanometry and Audiometry. 4. Health and safety survey. Two hundred and seventy two workers participated in the study and out of them 206 underwent audiometric evaluation. Results: The basic demographic, professional data and smoking habits of 272 workers participating in the study is as follows: 34.92% of workers belong to 41-50 years of age, 58.8% belong to Mohajir ethnic group, 19.1% were smoker/ex-smokers, 62% earned less than Rs 10,000/month, 87.5% received education for 0-10 years and 40% had work experience of 0-10 years. The majority of the workers were exposed to noise level higher than the safe limit of 85 dBA. According to the WHO criteria [1] 61% of the workers were suffering from hearing loss. Those who were suffering from hearing loss were further evaluated according to Cole's criteria for NIHL [2]. Of the total number of workers who underwent audiometry 25% fulfilled the Coles' criteria [2] for NIHL. The age, duration of exposure and severity of exposure were important determinants of NIHL. The workers had insufficient knowledge regarding prevention of NIHL. The personal protective equipments were used inadequately. There was no clinical follow up or monitoring of hearing among the workers. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for the government to take practical steps for making a policy and implement it so that occupational hearing loss can be prevented.
Environmental Noise Induced Hearing Loss In Nepal
Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ), 2003
Introduction: Noise pollution in urban cities is a serious problem and steadily increasing over the years. This has direct and indirect affect to the people that can lead to the health hazard. Objectives: To find out environmental noise induced health effect on people residing in an urban community and to predict the risk of the environmental noise induced hearing loss Material and methods: One hundred fifty questionnaires were filled up for the environmental noise pollution survey. For the case control study, 36 exposed and 25 non-exposed residents of Kupondole were included. Based on the place of residence (main road and 20 min. walking distance from the main road), subjects were divided into exposed and non-exposed group concerning environmental noise. Demographic data and information about health problems was obtained by a structured interview. Audiometric test was performed using manual audiometer. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for noise induced hearing loss were estimated using logistic regression. Adjustment for occupational noise was done Results: The major health effect induced by the environmental noise was observed as lack of concentration followed by irritation, fatigue and headache. The crude OR and 95% CI for the exposed subjects was 4.2 (1.4, 12). After adjustment for occupational noise, the OR (95% CI) was 4.0 (1.2, 13). Conclusion: This study shows that exposure to noise causes wide range of health effects. For the exposed subjects there was an increased risk of noise induced hearing loss. The risk was significantly increased also after adjusting for occupational noise.