<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Exposure of workers to mixtures of organic solvents and to occupational noise is frequent in a number of industries. Recent studies suggest that exposure to both can cause a more severe hearing loss than exposure to noise alone. Our cross-sectional study included 411 workers of a large automobile plant divided in three groups. The first group included assembly workers exposed to noise alone; the second included workers in a new paint shop, who were exposed to a mixture of organic solvents at a permissible level; and the third group included paint shop workers exposed to both noise and higher than permissible levels of organic solvents in an old paint shop. These groups were compared in terms of low-frequency hearing loss (model 1; average hearing threshold >25 dB at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz) and high-frequency hearing loss (model 2; average hearing threshold >25 dB at 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 6 kHz, and 8 kHz). High-frequency hearing loss was more common in workers exposed to a combination of noise and mixed organic solvents even at permissible levels than in workers exposed to noise alone even after correction for confounding variables. This study shows that combined exposure to mixed organic solvents and occupational noise can exacerbate hearing loss in workers. Therefore, an appropriate hearing protection programme is recommended, that would include short-interval audiometric examinations and efficient hearing protectors.</p></abstract>

Exposure of workers to mixtures of organic solvents and to occupational noise is frequent in a number of industries. Recent studies suggest that exposure to both can cause a more severe hearing loss than exposure to noise alone. Our cross-sectional study included 411 workers of a large automobile plant divided in three groups. The first group included assembly workers exposed to noise alone; the second included workers in a new paint shop, who were exposed to a mixture of organic solvents at a permissible level; and the third group included paint shop workers exposed to both noise and higher than permissible levels of organic solvents in an old paint shop. These groups were compared in terms of low-frequency hearing loss (model 1; average hearing threshold >25 dB at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz) and high-frequency hearing loss (model 2; average hearing threshold >25 dB at 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 6 kHz, and 8 kHz). High-frequency hearing loss was more common in workers exposed to a combination of noise and mixed organic solvents even at permissible levels than in workers exposed to noise alone even after correction for confounding variables. This study shows that combined exposure to mixed organic solvents and occupational noise can exacerbate hearing loss in workers. Therefore, an appropriate hearing protection programme is recommended, that would include short-interval audiometric examinations and efficient hearing protectors.

Combined Effects of Ototoxic Solvents and Noise on Hearing in Automobile Plant Workers in Iran

Department and Occupational Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

Exposure of workers to mixtures of organic solvents and to occupational noise is frequent in a number of industries. Recent studies suggest that exposure to...

Combined Effects of Ototoxic Solvents and Noise on Hearing in Automobile Plant Workers in Iran

Published Online: Sep 22, 2010

Page range: 267 - 274

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2013

Keywords
autolakirnica, gubitak sluha, profesionalna izloženost, sklapanje dijelova

This content is open access.

Combined Effects of Ototoxic Solvents and Noise on Hearing in Automobile Plant Workers in Iran

Published Online: Sep 22, 2010

Page range: 267 - 274

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2013

Keywordsautolakirnica, gubitak sluha, profesionalna izloženost, sklapanje dijelova

This content is open access.

Keywords
autolakirnica, gubitak sluha, profesionalna izloženost, sklapanje dijelova