GIS-Based Noise and Hearing Loss Screening in Publishing Factory

Abstract

Background: In many industries, noise is attributed as the most prevalent harmful agent threatening workers' health. Geographic Information System (GIS) is an applicable surveying tool in civil engineering. But, the use of GIS for noise and hearing loss screening seems to be partly a new approach. Objectives: This study aimed to apply GIS in noise and hearing loss screening in the production hall of a publishing industry. Patients and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 46 employees working in the production hall of a publishing industry in Iran. First, workers' hearing threshold was examined by Pure-Tone Audiometry (PTA) at 250-8000 Hz frequencies. Then, the production hall area was divided into squares (6 × 6 m 2 ), taking sound pressure levels (SPL) in each square center by a sound level meter (SLM) according to ISO-9612; 2009. Noise and hearing loss maps were drawn, by Arc GIS-9.2, for different areas of the production hall. Results: Noise measurements revealed that total sound pressure levels (SPL) in the production hall ranged from 72.3to 94.5 dBA. From the total area of production hall, 20% of it was found to be exceeding the threshold limit value (SPL ≥ 85 dBA) on the GIS-prepared noise map. Fisher exact test showed a significant difference between hearing losses (HL ≥ 25 dB) in the danger zone (SPL ≥ 85 dB) and the warning zone (85 > SPL ≥ 65 dB) (P = 0.005). Among the workers, 50% of them were in the danger zone and 8.8% of those who were in warning zone had varying degrees of hearing losses. Conclusions: GIS can play an important role in better noise and hearing loss screening through providing a set of facilities such as: converting point data to area ones, possibility of classification in different domains of prepared area data, generation of reports on map, graphic, and table, etc.

Determination of the Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (Leq) in Industrial Indoor Space Using GIS-based Noise Mapping

“…Furthermore, it enables the provision of noise maps for indoor environments (e.g., factories and industrial workplaces). In the present study, the floor of the halls was initially divided into squares in order to prepare the noise map of an industrial hall with noisy machines, and the center of each square was considered as the measurement point (grid method) [17]. Considering that the accuracy of noise maps depends on the distance between the measurement points, the minimum Journal of Human, Environment, and Health Promotion.…”

“…However, few studies have been focused on the noise mapping of indoor environments, and most of the studies in this regard have only addressed traffic, urban, and environmental noise [12][13][14]. Among the rare indoor studies, noise quantities and thorough noise analysis are scarce, and a simple description of the noise status has mostly been presented [15][16][17].…”

Odnos između izloženosti buci, umora i subjektivnog mentalnog opterećenja

“…Among the physical harms that have a significant effect on creating stressful conditions in the staff of open offices is noise pollution (Mohammadpour et al, 2013). Noise pollution is a major health problem in many industries that long-term exposure may cause physiological and psychological complications as well as basic cognitive impairments such as memory, attention, and other behavioral activities in people (Tak et al, 2009).…”