Analysis of occupational noise exposure and hearing loss in workers in petrochemical enterprises / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

{L-End}Objective To study the situation of occupational noise exposure and hearing loss in workers in petrochemical enterprises. {L-End}Methods A total of 2 052 workers from four large-scale petrochemical enterprises in China were selected as the research subjects using convenience sampling method. The noise-exposed level of job position was detected by individual noise dosimeters, and pure-tone audiometry of the workers was conducted. {L-End}Results The noise-exposed levels at various job positions in the workplace of the enterprises ranged from 83.2 to 86.7 dB(A), and 61.1% of the job positions had a cumulative noise exposure (CNE) > 95.0 dB(A) per year. The detection rate of high-frequency hearing loss was 12.6%(259/2 052) among the research subjects. The detection rate of speech frequency hearing loss was 5.5%(112/2 052) among the research subjects. The result of CNE stratified analysis showed that the detection rate of hearing loss at frequencies of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 6.0 kHz, as well as high frequencies, gradually increased with increasing CNE (all P<0.05). {L-End}Conclusion The noise hazard in petrochemical enterprises is severe, and long-term occupational noise exposure can increase the risk of hearing loss among workers. Efforts should be made to strengthen noise control and hearing protection measures.