Noise and neurotoxic chemical exposure relationship to workplace traumatic injuries: A review

Abstract

Introduction More than 5,000 fatalities and eight million injuries occurred in the workplace in 2007 at a cost of $6 billion and $186 billion, respectively. Neurotoxic chemicals are known to affect central nervous system functions among workers, which include balance and hearing disorders. However, it is not known if there is an association between exposure to noise and solvents and acute injuries. Method A thorough review was conducted of the literature on the relationship between noise or solvent exposures and hearing loss with various health outcomes. Results The search resulted in 41 studies. Health outcomes included: hearing loss, workplace injuries, absence from work due to sickness, fatalities, hospital admissions due to workplace accidents, traffic accidents, hypertension, balance, slip, trips, or falls, cognitive measures, or disability retirement. Important covariates in these studies were age of employee, type of industry or occupation, or length of employment. Discussion Most authors that evaluated noise exposure concluded that higher exposure to noise resulted in more of the chosen health effect but the relationship is not well understood. Studies that evaluated hearing loss found that hearing loss was related to occupational injury, disability retirement, or traffic accidents. Studies that assessed both noise exposure and hearing loss as risk factors for occupational injuries reported that hearing loss was related to occupational injuries as much or more than noise exposure. Evidence suggests that solvent exposure is likely to be related to accidents or other health consequences such balance disorders. Conclusions Many authors reported that noise exposures and hearing loss, respectively, are likely to be related to occupational accidents. Practical applications The potential significance of the study is that findings could be used by managers to reduce injuries and the costs associated with those injures.

Hearing Protector Attenuation and Noise Exposure Among Metal Manufacturing Workers

“…Issues with detecting warning signals (Laroche et al 2018) and disrupted or inefficient communication may be an underlying cause of increased injury risk. Workers with clinical hearing impairments have been demonstrated to have a higher injury rate in the workplace (Girard et al 2014;Cantley et al 2015a;Cantley et al 2015b;Estill et al 2017), further supporting the need to preserve communication ability in noisy workplaces. Additionally, tinnitus may be a risk factor for occupational injury in noise-exposed jobs (Cantley et al 2015b), and may also be associated with increased use of HPDs compared to individuals without tinnitus (Beach et al 2016).…”

Evaluation of exposures to styrene during ultraviolet cured-in-place pipe installation.

“…Styrene is a colorless liquid and VOC that occurs naturally in small amounts in certain plants and foods; styrene is commercially produced and used in the manufacture of reinforced plastics and synthetic rubbers [ATSDR 2010]. Work-related exposure to styrene occurs primarily by inhalation and skin contact; some health effects associated with styrene exposure are tiredness, changes in color vision, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, balance problems, feeling drunk, or hearing loss [ATSDR 2010;Campo et al 2014;Estill et al 2016]. Styrene exposure is also a potential risk factor for non-malignant respiratory disease among workers in industries using styrene [Nett et al 2017].…”

Evaluation of exposures to styrene during cured-in-place pipe liner preparation and during pipe repairs using hot water and steam.

“…Exposure to styrene can occur by breathing air containing styrene or when skin comes into contact with resin containing styrene. Some health effects associated with styrene exposure are changes in color vision, tiredness, feeling drunk, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, balance problems, or hearing loss [ATSDR 2010;Campo et al 2014;Estill et al 2016]. Styrene exposure is also a potential risk factor for non-malignant respiratory disease among workers in industries using styrene [Nett et al 2017a].…”