Hearing loss among Egyptian workers exposed to noise in minthouse industry

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in an industry where noise is a physical environmental pollutant. A sum of 148 male workers classified according to noise exposure into an exposed [98 workers] and a control group [50 workers]. On the day of examination, every worker had a questionnaire filled, an otologic examination and an audiogram. Noise level at different production sections was measured. The results of the study showed that noise-induced hearing loss was affected by age, duration of exposure and noise level at the investigated location. Statistically significant differences between the mean hearing loss for the exposed and the control workers were found. Recommendations to control this health hazard are included