Noise & Health最新文献

Objective: This study investigated the long-term health risks associated with occupational noise exposure. By using 9 years of health examination data from a major manufacturing company in Taiwan, this study compared the health indices of employees in noise-intensive and non-noise-intensive work environments.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 6278 health examination reports spanning 9 years was conducted to compare 20 health indices among 166 employees evenly distributed between noise-intensive and non-noise-intensive workgroups. These employees were carefully matched for sex, age, and work experience. Linear regression models were used to assess the temporal impact of noise exposure on each health index by incorporating a unique range ratio to quantify index fluctuations attributable to noise.

Results: Employees exposed to occupational noise had an increase in platelet count of 16.594 K/µL, with an annual increment of 1.228 K/µL. Moreover, employees in noisy environments exhibited a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen level by 0.438 mg/dL, with an annual increase of 0.171 mg/dL. Additionally, their carcinoembryonic antigen level was significantly increased by 0.187 ng/mL on average, with the annual increase being 0.034 ng/mL. Moreover, increases in systolic blood pressure (2.015 mmHg), heart rate (4.620 beats/min), and white blood cell count (0.536 K/µL) and a decrease in red blood cell count (0.107 M/µL) were discovered to be solely attributable to noise exposure.

Conclusions: Prolonged exposure to high occupational noise levels significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular, renal, and colorectal diseases. This longitudinal study underscores the detrimental health consequences of prolonged noise exposure in occupational settings.

There are many possibilities for noise exposure in industrial workplaces, including sectors that extensively use heavy machinery in processing each product. Various studies indicate a causal relationship between noise exposure and auditory/nonauditory effects among workers. Noise exposure poses risks to health and workers' hearing acuity and safety. This review paper aims to identify and summarize occupational noise exposure by examining the auditory and nonauditory effects among mill workers. The mills included in the study are palm oil, lumber, textiles, rice, sugarcane, flour, paper, and sawmills. A two-step methodology was used to achieve the aims of this narrative review. The literature search was conducted by gathering PubMed and Google Scholar papers, focusing on occupational noise in different occupational mill environments. Grey's literature was conducted by screening the worldwide national standard for the laws, guidelines, and other related information based on this topic. A total of 22 articles published have been included. The content of each publication was subsequently summarized. Most of the machine areas within the mills emitted high level of noise. The auditory effects of occupational noise exposure among mill workers were noise-induced hearing loss and hearing impairment. Hypertension, stress, communication disturbance, cardiovascular disease, and headache were the nonauditory effects experienced by workers. The recommendations provided in this review for mitigating noise exposure are derived from the hierarchy of control. Overall, most mill workers are exposed to a high noise level exceeding the standard noise exposure limit. Preventive actions should be taken to address and reduce work-related injuries among mill workers worldwide.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience difficulties in understanding speech in noise despite having normal hearing.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the relationship between speech discrimination in noise (SDN) and medial olivocochlear reflex levels and to compare MS patients with a control group.

Material and methods: Sixty participants with normal hearing, comprising 30 MS patients and 30 healthy controls, were included. For both groups, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were recorded at frequencies of 1000, 1400, 2000, 2800, 4000, 5600 and 8000 in the presence and absence of contralateral white sound at 65 dB SPL. Speech discrimination tests in the presence and absence of noise, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale were applied to all participants to evaluate their cognitive skills.

Results: In age- and sex-matched groups, the DPOAE signal-to-noise ratio value was 6.50 ± 1.30 in the right ear at a frequency of 8000 Hz in the control group and 2.40 ± 1.75 in the MS group (P < 0.05). In the comparison of suppression between ears, lower suppression was found at 1400 and 2000 Hz in the left ear and 1000 Hz in the right ear in the MS group (P < 0.05). In the control group, a moderately significant positive correlation existed between right ear SDN scores and left ear suppression values (P < 0.05). The cognitive functions of the MS group were lower in MoCA and SDMT (P < 0.05). Patients who scored less than 21 points in MoCA also had low suppression results (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Comprehensive evaluations are necessary to uncover the presence of auditory perception disorders, such as noise sensitivity or speech disorders in noise, amongst MS patients.

Background: Tinnitus refers to a common disorder affecting older adults frequently. This condition can disturb mental health and psychological well-being and contribute to cognitive decline. Despite recent advances in research, its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the sensation of tinnitus, its consequences on the quality of life of older adults, and its correlation with cytokine levels.

Methods and material: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 103 independent older adults. Information regarding clinical history, tinnitus, and hearing loss was obtained through interviews. Assessment of tinnitus intensity and resulting impairments was conducted using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Tinnitus Handicap Index (THI), respectively. Subjects underwent audiological evaluation and were measured for inflammatory markers. Statistical analyses included chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests and calculation of the effect size (Φ).

Results: The condition of older adults with tinnitus (51.5%) was associated with hearing loss and previous noise exposure. No differences were observed in the cytokines between groups with and without tinnitus (P > 0.05), whereas a difference was found in the interleukin-10 (IL-10) of the male group (P = 0.016; r = 0.69). In those with tinnitus, VAS had a median and (interquartile range) of 5 (2-7), and the values were 21 (10-38) for THI. In addition, VAS and minimum masking level exhibited a significant correlation with IL-6 (P = 0.018; rs = 0.335) and IL-2 (P = 0.035; rs = 0.299), respectively. Furthermore, the groups with intense and mild VAS presented different levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P = 0.041; E2R = 0.12).

Conclusion: The results reveal an association between tinnitus and hearing loss and previous noise exposure. Moreover, increased sound-masking levels and VAS correlated with IL-2 and IL-6, respectively. TNF-α levels varied between the mild and intense VAS groups.

Hearing loss (HL) is a prevalent health concern with a significant impact on society and the economy. Several factors contribute to the development of hearing impairment, with noise overexposure being the primary culprit. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is also a factor in hearing impairment, and studies have shown a positive correlation between DM and HL; however, the exact causal relationship and pathogenesis remain contentious. Given the ubiquity of noise exposure and the high incidence of DM, individuals may develop diabetes while being chronically exposed to noise. It is particularly important to explore the independent and combined effects of noise and DM on hearing, which can help healthcare professionals understand the potential risks posed by these factors and inspire prevention strategies and potential interventions for hearing impairment. This review summarizes the current research advancements in noise-induced HL and diabetes-related HL and discusses their characteristics and potential mechanisms. Furthermore, this review focuses on the combined effects of noise exposure and DM on hearing, setting the stage for further research and development of intervention strategies to address HL.

Background: The effect of background noise on auscultation accuracy for different lung sound classes under standardised conditions, especially at lower to medium levels, remains largely unexplored. This article aims to evaluate the impact of three levels of Gaussian white noise (GWN) on the ability to identify three classes of lung sounds.

Methods and materials: A pre-post pilot study assessing the impact of GWN on a group of students' ability to identify lung sounds was conducted. The three intensities were applied to the three classes of lung sounds: no GWN, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), SNR-40 (medium level) and SNR-20 (high). This resulted with three exams, each containing nine questions. Fifty-two participants underwent a 4-day training programme and were tested on their identification of lung sound classes under the three levels of GWN, but seven subjects were excluded for not completing all three assessments. Statistical analysis was performed on 45 subjects, using non-parametric tests to analyse the data. A P-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The GWN did not impact the overall lung sound identification capacity of medical students, with consistent scores of 66.7% across the three noise levels for all three lung sound classes combined. However, when considering sound classes separately, GWN affected the identification of normal (NAS) and discontinuous (DAS), but not continuous (CAS) types. Exam scores for NAS varied significantly across the three noise levels, with respective scores of 66.7%, 100% and 66.7%. Scores for DAS also varied, revealing 66.7%, 33.3% and 66.7%.

Conclusion: This study introduces a standardised simulation-based approach to investigate the effect of GWN on the accuracy of auscultation amongst medical students. Findings indicate that whilst CAS sounds are robust to background noise, the identification of NAS and DAS sounds can be compromised. The medium noise levels (SNR-40) of noise pollution had the greatest effect on the DAS lung sounds.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between occupational noise exposure and renal dysfunction in male workers.

Methods: A total of 160 male workers (the number of people who met the inclusion criteria) who underwent health examinations in Qingdao Municipal Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were grouped into a noise group (80 cases) and a control group (80 cases) based on whether they engaged in noise work. We compared the differences in creatinine (CREA), cystatin C (CysC) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels between the two groups. We also compared the differences in the above renal function indicators among workers with different working years in the noise group, as well as observed the relationship between renal dysfunction and noise exposure.

Results: The levels of BUN, CREA and CysC in the noise group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The overall abnormal rate of renal function in the noise group (42.50%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (11.25%, P < 0.05). The levels of BUN, CREA and CysC all significantly increased with the increase in working years (P < 0.05). The noise exposure intensity and cumulative noise exposure (CNE) of the group with renal dysfunction were higher than those of the group with normal renal function (P < 0.05). The area under the curve was 0.811 (95% confidence interval: 0.714-0.908), the optimal cut-off value of CNE was 96.53 dB (A) · year, the sensitivity was 89.29%, the specificity was 83.32% and the Youden index was 72.61%.

Conclusion: There may be a correlation between long-term noise exposure and renal function. The intensity of noise exposure and CNE may have a certain correlation with renal function damage in occupational noise-exposed workers.

Background: Noise sources in paediatric dental offices include machinery and children's cries and screams. Although the presence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) among dental operators is established, preventive measures such as ear protection devices (EPDs) are not frequently employed as prophylactic intervention. The primary aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the noise levels in paediatric dental clinics and to qualitatively evaluate the operators' perception of noise with and without the use of EPDs.

Methods: A crossover study was conducted with 93 operators; half of whom first worked without EPD, and the other half worked with EPD. Sound produced near each operator was recorded in decibels (dBs) for five working days, and the maximum sound in decibel for each day was noted and averaged. The results were then compared with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) exposure limits. A questionnaire was handed out before the commencement of the study, and another at the end of the study.

Results: The average noise level was 86.68 dB without EPD and 86.83 dB with EPD. About 65.59% dentists considered the level of noise at their workplace to be medium level, and 98.92% did not wear EPD. Most common findings, such as irritability at the end of the day (77.42%), were relieved after use of EPD in 92.47% dentists.

Conclusion: The noise in the paediatric department is above the NOISH-recommended exposure limit, which is harmful to the auditory system. In general, dentists are knowledgeable about the noise in the operatory, although their knowledge about EPDs is not high.

Background: With the aging of the population, the deterioration of visual and auditory functions amongst the elderly has attracted much attention. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are common eye and ear diseases that seriously affect the quality of life of elderly population.

Methods: This study utilised a whole cohort sampling method, with a total of 713 participants aged 50 years and older in the community from June 2022 to October 2023, resulting in the inclusion of 620 participants. Demographic information was collected from these participants, and eye and hearing examinations were conducted at Ningde Municipal Hospital affiliated of Fujian Medical University. Spearman's correlation analysis was utilised to investigate the association between ARHL and AMD in patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors influencing ARHL to provide insights for preventing and treating ARHL and AMD in older individuals.

Results: Correlation analysis indicated a significantly positive relationship between ARHL and AMD (P < 0.001). The results showed that age, medical history, AMD and chronic noise exposure were risk factors for ARHL.

Conclusions: There were 196 cases of AMD in ARHL patients (82.35%). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that ARHL was associated with AMD; logistic regression analysis revealed that age, medical history, macular degeneration and history of prolonged noise exposure were risk factors for ARHL. Among them, age, medical history (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus), noise and AMD influence the development of ARHL in the elderly population. Therefore, attention should be paid to controlling risk factors in this population to prevent or reduce the development of ARHL.

Objective: Besides psychosocial stressors, teachers are exposed to disturbing noise at work, such as students' irrelevant speech. Few studies have focused on this issue and its health consequences. We explored occupational noise exposure among teachers within the French workforce and analyzed how noise and work-related stress are related to their health.

Materials and methods: The prevalence of perceived noise exposure, evaluated through the question "Do you work in an environment where you sometimes have to raise your voice to talk to people 2 to 3 m away?" was compared between teachers (n = 13,843) and various occupational groups (n = 34,338) using inclusion data (2012-2020) from the ongoing French population-based CONSTANCES cohort (>217,000 participants). Additionally, the relationships between perceived noise and two health dimensions, perceived health (poor vs. good) and depressive symptoms (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, high vs. low/moderate), among teachers were alternately investigated using logistic regressions. Moreover, how perceived noise may interact with work-related stress (effort-reward imbalance/strained relationships) was explored.

Results: Thirty-two percent of teachers reported working in a noisy environment, compared with 14% of noneducation employees (P < 0.001). Primary school teachers were the most likely to report noise exposure (43%). Independent of stress, teachers exposed to noise had poorer perceived health and higher odds of depressive symptoms than nonexposed teachers, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 1.21 (1.07; 1.37) and 1.14 (1.01; 1.28), respectively. Evidence of an interaction between perceived noise and strained relationships was observed on perceived health (P = 0.05).

Conclusion: French teachers commonly reported disturbing noise at work, and those exposed showed poorer health indicators, particularly when facing strained relationships. The findings call for further studies on noise in schools, especially longitudinal studies, to ascertain its long-term effect on teachers' health and its potential interaction with the psychosocial environment.