Assessment of occupational risk caused by noise exposure in workers at metallurgical plant subunits under modernization

Abstract

Introduction. Noise is a common occupational hazard in metallurgic production. Objective. To evaluate occupational risk caused by exposure to noise in 18 occupational groups in subunits under modernization in an enterprise producing titanium alloys, using methodology of N.F. Izmerov Occupational Medicine Research Institute. Materials and methods. A priori risk evaluation by noise measurements was performed according to criteria of Manuals R 2.2.2006–05, R 2.2.1766–03 and hygienic models, a posteriori one — by analysis of occupational morbidity over 30 years, transitory disablement morbidity and chronic diseases prevalence according to medical examinations data over 5 years. Total of 58758 sick-leave certifi cates was analyzed. Comparison covered morbidity in individuals exposed to noise (3501 individuals) and non-exposed individuals (9138 ones). Results. Findings are that a risk level by hygienic criteria in the studied occupations was assigned to low to high category (work conditions classes 3.1–3.3), by occupational morbidity criterion — from low to high (index of occupational diseases from 0 to 0.25). Occupational neurosensory deafness was registered in blacksmiths, turners, vertical lathe operators. Noise appeared to be a trigger for diseases of ears, eyes, skin, locomotory system, nervous system, urinary tract, respiratory system, for mental disorders, increased blood pressure, hyperglycemia, leukocytosis, with 1.1–1.7 times reliably increased their risk in general over the production, and up to 3.7 times in certain occupations (p<0.05). Prevalence of the health disorders appeared to increase with growing noise levels. Conclusions. Industrial modernization is associated with decrease of occupational morbidity caused by exposure to noise to single cases and increase of age and length of service at noise conditions to diagnosis. Considerable health improvement was seen in blacksmiths, aft er hammer equipment was changed to the press one, in lathe operators — aft er lathe changed to processing centers with numerical control.

On certain issues related to chronic exposure to occupational noise and impacts exerted by it on workers’ bodies (literature review)

“…Базарова с соавт. [38] при обследовании работников металлургического предприятия на анализе большого клинического материала заключили, что воздействие шума является производственным стрессором «большой биологической активности и может служить пусковым механизмом развития патологии многих органов и систем организма». О широком спектре негативного влияния на организм указывают результаты исследований, свидетельствующие о том, что темп биологического старения у лиц, подвергающихся воздействию шума и вибрации, в 1,14 раза выше по сравнению с контрольными данными, а фактический биологический возраст превышает в среднем более чем на 10 лет [39].…”

On certain issues related to chronic exposure to occupational noise and impacts exerted by it on workers’ bodies (literature review)

“…Given that, when assessing occupational risks caused by adverse effects produced on workers' health by long-term exposure to noise, it is important to take into account that noise, apart from exerting these specific impacts on the hearing organs, has apparent biologic effects on many other organs and systems and significantly inhibits adaptation abilities of a body [35][36][37]. E.L. Bazarova et al [38] examined workers employed at a metallurgic enterprise; they had substantial clinical data available for analysis and it allowed them to conclude that exposure to noise was a biological stressor «of a great biological activity and could induce pathology occurrence in many organs and systems in a body». A wide range of negative effects produced by noise on a body has been mentioned in multiple works and proven with research results; these results indicate that people who are exposed to noise and vibration have 1.14 more rapid biological ageing against reference groups and their actual biological age is on average more than 10 years greater [39].…”