Estudio Transversal: Hipoacusia Laboral Inducida por Ruido en Personal de Aeronáutica del Ejército Ecuatoriano y Factores Asociados. Quito ­ Ecuador, 2014 - 2016 / Cross-sectional research: Noise-induced Occupational Hypoacusis in Aeronautical Personnel of the Ecuadorian Army and Associated Factors. Quito - Ecuador, 2014 - 2016

INTRODUCCIÓN: La hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido es una patología ocupacional frecuente, responsable de pérdidas de la audición sino se controla a tiempo. El objetivo del estudio fue establecer la prevalencia de hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido y factores relacionados en el personal de aeronáutica del ejército. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal analítico en el personal tripulación del ejército ecuatoriano, Quito ­ Ecuador, período 2014 ­ 2016 que relacionó asociación causal entre hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido con variables como edad, función, rango, antecedentes de hipoacusia en el servicio militar. Se trabajó con todo el personal de vuelo, 112 militares en servicio activo. RESULTADOS: El promedio de edad fue de 37 años. Todos eran varones. El 55.4 % pertenecía a tropa y 44. 6 % eran oficiales. El 44.6 % eran pilotos; 28.6 % mecánicos y 26.8 % ingenieros de vuelo. La prevalencia de hipoacusia general fue del 35.6 %; la de hipoacusia unilateral fue del 19.6 % y de la bilateral del 16 %. La frecuencia de antecedentes de hipoacusia laboral asociada a ruido en la aeronáutica fue del 60.7 %. La prevalencia de hipoacusia leve fue del 17.8 %; moderada con 6.7 % y severa con 1.35 %. Las variables asociadas a hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido en el personal militar en funciones de vuelo fueron: la edad, el rango, la función y antecedentes de hipoacusia. El oído izquierdo suele afectarse más que el derecho. La hipoacusia bilateral más frecuente fue la leve derecha con agudeza normal izquierda (10.7 %). CONCLUSIONES: La hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido es multifactorial y puede ser reversible si se detiene el causal o si se llevan a cabo medidas de protección adecuadas. El nivel de hipoacusia en el personal militar de vuelo tiene asociación con: la edad, el rango, la función y los antecedentes de hipoacusia laboral en funciones de vuelo.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is induced by noise in job and is a frequent illness, responsible of hearing loss if it is not controlled on time. The aim of this study is establish the prevalence of hearing loss and related factors in army aviation personnel. METHODS: An analytical cross - sectional study of the Ecuadorian army crew, Quito - Ecuador, between 2014 and 2016, which related a causal association between hearing loss induced by noise in job with variables such as age, function, rank and backgrounds of hearing loss in military service. It worked with all the personnel of flight 112 military in active service. RESULTS: The mean age was 37 years. All were male. 55.4% belonged to troops and 44. 6 % were officers. 44.6 % were pilots; 28.6 % were mechanics and 26.8 % were flight engineers. The prevalence of general hearing loss was 35.6 %. The prevalence of unilateral hearing loss was 19.6 % and bilateral prevalence was 16 %. The frequency of antecedents of occupational hearing loss associated with aviation noise in this staff was of 60.7 %. The prevalence of mild hearing loss was 17.85 %; moderate hearing loss 6.7 % and severe of 1.35 %, no profound hearing loss was reported. The variables associated with decreased auditory acuity are: age, aviation exercise time, range, function, and history of hearing loss within the aeronautical field. Bilateral damage has a statistical tendency with age and association with the range. No deep hearing loss was found. CONCLUSION: Noise-induced occupational hearing loss is multifactorial and may be reversible if the cause is stopped or appropriate protective measures are taken. The level of hearing loss in military flight personnel has an association with: age, range, function, and history of occupational hearing loss in flight functions.

Audiometric profile of civilian pilots according to noise exposure / Perfil audiométrico segundo exposição de pilotos civis ao ruído

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the audiometric profile of civilian pilots according to the noise exposure level. METHODS This observational cross-sectional study evaluated 3,130 male civilian pilots aged between 17 and 59 years. These pilots were subjected to audiometric examinations for obtaining or revalidating the functional capacity certificate in 2011. The degree of hearing loss was classified as normal, suspected noise-induced hearing loss, and no suspected hearing loss with other associated complications. Pure-tone air-conduction audiometry was performed using supra-aural headphones and acoustic stimulus of the pure-tone type, containing tone thresholds of frequencies between 250 Hz and 6,000 Hz. The independent variables were professional categories, length of service, hours of flight, and right or left ear. The dependent variable was pilots with suspected noise-induced hearing loss. The noise exposure level was considered low/medium or high, and the latter involved periods > 5,000 flight hours and > 10 years of flight service. RESULTS A total of 29.3% pilots had suspected noise-induced hearing loss, which was bilateral in 12.8% and predominant in the left ear (23.7%). The number of pilots with suspected hearing loss increased as the noise exposure level increased. CONCLUSIONS Hearing loss in civilian pilots may be associated with noise exposure during the period of service and hours of flight. .

OBJETIVO Analisar o perfil audiométrico de pilotos civis segundo grau de exposição ao ruído. MÉTODOS Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, com 3.130 pilotos civis do sexo masculino de 17 a 59 anos submetidos a exames audiométricos iniciais ou de revalidação de Certificado de Capacidade Física em 2011. Os sujeitos foram categorizados segundo perda auditiva como: normais, sugestivos de perda auditiva induzida por ruído, e outros fatores associados e não sugestivos. A audiometria tonal liminar utilizada foi por via aérea, com a utilização de fones supra-aurais, por meio do estímulo acústico do tipo tom puro, contendo os limiares tonais das frequências de 250 a 6.000 Hz. As variáveis independentes foram as categorias dos pilotos, tempo de serviço, horas de voo e orelha direita ou esquerda. A variável dependente corresponde aos casos sugestivos de perda auditiva induzida por ruído. O grau de exposição foi considerado baixo/médio ou alto, sendo este último com horas de voo maiores que 5.000 e tempo de serviço maior que 10 anos. RESULTADOS Foram observados 29,3% casos sugestivos de perda auditiva induzida por ruído, 12,8% bilaterais com predomínio do lado esquerdo (23,7%). Com o aumento do grau de exposição ao ruído, o número de casos sugestivos de perda auditiva também aumentou. CONCLUSÕES A perda auditiva nos pilotos civis pode estar associada à exposição ao ruído ao longo do tempo de serviço e das horas de voo. .

Traffic noise affects forest bird species in a protected tropical forest

The construction of roads near protected forest areas alters ecosystem function by creating habitat fragmentation and through several direct and indirect negative effects such as increased pollution, animal mortality through collisions, disturbance caused by excessive noise and wind turbulence. Noise in particular may have strong negative effects on animal groups such as frogs and birds, that rely on sound for communication as it can negatively interfere with vocalizations used for territorial defense or courtship. Thus, birds are expected to be less abundant close to the road where noise levels are high. In this study, we examined the effects of road traffic noise levels on forest bird species in a protected tropical forest in Costa Rica. Data collection was conducted in a forest segment of the Carara National Park adjacent to the Coastal Highway. We carried out 120 ten minute bird surveys and measured road noise levels 192 times from the 19th to the 23rd of April and from the 21st to the 28th of November, 2008. To maximize bird detection for the species richness estimates we operated six 12m standard mist nets simultaneously with the surveys. The overall mist-netting effort was 240net/h. In addition, we estimated traffic volumes by tallying the number of vehicles passing by the edge of the park using 24 one hour counts throughout the study. We found that the relative abundance of birds and bird species richness decreased significantly with the increasing traffic noise in the dry and wet season. Noise decreased significantly and in a logarithmic way with distance from the road in both seasons. However, noise levels at any given distance were significantly higher in the dry compared to the wet season. Our results suggest that noise might be an important factor influencing road bird avoidance as measured by species richness and relative abundance. Since the protected forest in question is located in a national park subjected to tourist visitation, these results have conservation as well as management implications. A decrease in bird species richness and bird abundance due to intrusive road noise could negatively affect the use of trails by visitors. Alternatives for noise attenuation in the affected forest area include the enforcement of speed limits and the planting of live barriers. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (2): 969-980. Epub 2011 June 01.

Las carreteras cerca de bosques alteran la función del ecosistema por fragmentación del hábitat y tienen otros efectos negativos como contaminación, mortalidad de animales y ruido excesivo; sobre todo en animales como ranas y aves que dependen del sonido para comunicarse. Se espera menos abundancia de aves cerca de la carretera donde el ruido es alto. Este estudio evalúa los efectos del ruido por carretera sobre las aves en un bosque tropical de Costa Rica. También realizamos censos de aves y medimos el ruido del 19 al 23 de abril y del 21 al 28 de noviembre 2008. Además, utilizamos redes de niebla para maximizar la detección de aves en la estimación de riqueza de especies. La abundancia de aves así como la riqueza de especies decrecieron significativamente con el incremento del ruido tanto en la estación seca como en la lluviosa. El ruido disminuyó en forma logarítmica con el aumento en la distancia a la carretera y fue más alto durante la estación seca. Nuestros resultados sugieren que las aves tienden generalmente a evitar el ruido del tráfico y tienen implicaciones en la conservación y manejo del área protegida.

effect of excessive noise exposure on the hearing thresholds of aviation workers in Karachi

The purposes of this study on Aviation Workers were to [a] determine the prevalence of Noise induced hearing loss [NIHL] in aviation workers [b] suggest measures for its prevention. This cross sectional epidemiological study was conducted with noise exposed and non noise exposed matching variables of adult age group, full time [24 hours], male workers at a large metropolitan airport of Karachi, Pakistan [Noise exposed group], villagers living in the outskirts of Karachi who had their work place and residence within the village [non noise exposed group]. The three measures used were Hearing Questionnaire, Audiological assessment and a record review of base line hearing test [pure tone audiogram] and noise levels at locations of work and residence lived i.e. round the clock noise exposure. Subjects with other causes of hearing impairment like, otitis media, post high grade fever, metabolic disorders and history of ototoxicity were excluded from the study. A significant difference in prevalence of hearing loss [more than 30db] between the noise exposed and non noise exposed group [P<0.5] was noted. Aggressive hearing conservation measures are required for these aviation workers; they are like [a] Availability of HPD's [b] Ban on "Non Certified" aircraft operations as specified by ICAO Chapter 3, Annex-16

Niveles de contaminación por ruido en una de las principales avenidas de la ciudad de México / Noise pollution levels in a large street in Mexico city

Se reportan los resultados de la medición de los niveles de contaminación por ruido, encontrados en seis horarios a lo largo de las 24 hr del día, en una de las principales avenidad de la ciudad de México en el año de 1993. Las mediciones se efectuaron mediante un sonómetro a las: 4.00, 8.00, 11.00, 15.00, 19.00 y 23.00 hr. El nivel de ruido en el percentil 10 (NR10) en los horarios estudiados fué de 80.3, 104.8, 100.9, 103.8, 95.6 y 95.2 dB "A" a las 4.00, 8.00, 11.00, 15.00, 19.00 y 23.00 hrs. respectivamente. El nivel de ruido en el percentil 50 (NR50) en los horarios estudiados fué de 67.7, 90.5, 87.5, 90.5, 86.5, y 77.2 dB "A" respectivamente. El nivel de ruido en el percentil 90 (NR90) fué de 60.2, 85.6, 82.1, 86.8, 84.7 y 73.9 dB "A". La correlación entre el ruido y la cantidad de automóviles circulantes fué de r=0.86. estos datos muestran que los niveles de ruido en calles de denso tráfico en la ciudad de México, se mantienen por arriba de la norma considerad como saludable (70 dB), a lo largo del día asociados al tráfico automotor