Noise Exposure and Hearing Impairment among Chinese Restaurant Workers and Entertainment Employees in Hong Kong

Lao, Xiang Qian; Yu, Ignatius Tak Sun; Au, Darren; Chiu, Yuk Lan; Wong, Claudie Chiu Yi; Wong, Tze Wai

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070674

Cited by 24 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Presbycusis is usually seen after the age of 60 and may show a different pattern on audiogram, leading to a down sloping curve without a notch on audiogram. Also, distinction of presbycusis from noise-induced hearing loss may be difficult in the setting of combined occupational noise exposure and older age (18). Although the results showed that increasing of age increases the hearing loss, to better assess we need for screening and assessment of various factors including the underlying factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Survey of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Health in Professional Drivers

2015

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Background:Noise from traffic is a major source of environmental pollution in different countries. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of noise on professional drivers' health and hearing loss in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study was performed on 1901 professional drivers referred to one of the authorized occupational health clinics in Tehran, Iran, in 2011. Basic demographic data including height, weight and age were recorded. Moreover, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, triglycerides and audiometry tests were performed. Results:The results of BMI showed that the 44.7% of professional drivers were overweight, 16.7 % moderately obese and 4.2% were severely obese. Cholesterol of drivers, 27.3% was border line high risk and 13.3% high-risk. Triglycerides of drivers, 19.5% were border line high risk and 25.8% high-risk. The mean age of the drivers, cholesterol, triglycerides and BMI were 41. 56 ± 10.57, 193.12 ± 42.63, 176.21 ± 118.21 and 26.89 ± 4.29, respectively. The rates of hearing loss in high audiometric frequencies were more than at low audiometric frequencies. Hearing loss in older drivers was more and this was due to the long exposure to noise pollution. Conclusions: Due to the long exposure to the loud noise during the day, hearing loss in drivers is significant. The left ear displays greater loss than the right ear. Therefore, strategies to prevent hearing loss in drivers could include education, lifestyle changes and compliance issues related to hearing health, use of personal protective equipment, conducting periodic examinations and early treatment .

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Survey of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Health in Professional Drivers

2015

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“…Viu-se, conforme se esperava, a associação, com gradiente positivo, entre o desfecho e a idade 9,16,19 . A significância estatística com a antiguidade no cargo ocupado nas faixas de 5-10 anos e a idade entre 20 e 47 anos não foi surpreendente 24 .…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…Sexo masculino, faixa etária menos jovem, antiguidade no cargo e consumo diário de álco-ol foram associados à perda auditiva de origem ocupacional na amostra de 1.670 trabalhadores do setor de entretenimento e restaurante 19 . A relação entre o aumento da perda auditiva de acordo com a idade e o tempo de serviço também foi confirmada em outros estudos 16,20 .…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Perda auditiva em trabalhadores do transporte urbano na Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

2015

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Objetivou-se verificar a associação entre o diagnóstico de perda auditiva autorrelatado por trabalhadores do transporte urbano da Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, e fatores individuais e ocupacionais. O tamanho da amostra foi calculado por quotas e estratificado por ocupação (motoristas e cobradores) nas empresas de Belo Horizonte, Betim e Contagem. A coleta de dados foi realizada face a face com o auxílio de netbooks pelos entrevistadores. A variável resposta foi definida pela resposta positiva à pergunta sobre a vigência de diagnóstico médico de perda auditiva. As variáveis independentes foram organizadas em 3 blocos: características sociodemográficas, estilo de vida e aspectos do trabalho. O diagnóstico de perda auditiva foi mencionado por 213 dos 1.527 trabalhadores e esteve associado à idade e ao diagnóstico de zumbido. Na esfera ocupacional, destacaram-se o absenteísmo-doença, antiguidade no cargo e dois riscos ambientais: ruído insuportável e vibração de corpo inteiro. Medidas de prevenção da perda auditiva para os trabalhadores do transporte urbano são necessárias.

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“…(6–9,12) These studies concluded that environmental sound levels in restaurants can exceed 85 dBA during operating hours. (6,9) In a case study of 30 restaurants in Florida, Rusnock and Bush (7) found average restaurant sound levels ranged from 58 to 97 dBA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lao et al (12) performed a cross-sectional survey of hearing loss in non-manufacturing industries, which included personal noise assessment of 22 restaurant workers in Hong Kong. This work identified mean personal daily exposure among cooks (n = 20) was 92.9 dBA and among dishwashers (n = 2) 90.5 dBA, reporting that three personal exposures exceeded 100 dBA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Noise Exposure of Employees at Locally-Owned Restaurants in a College Town

Green

Anthony

2015

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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While many restaurant employees work in loud environments, in both dining and food preparation areas, little is known about worker exposures to noise. The risk of hearing loss to millions of food service workers around the country is unknown. This study evaluated full-shift noise exposure to workers at six locally-owned restaurants to examine risk factors associated with noise exposures during the day shift. Participants included cooks, counter attendants, bartenders, and waiters at full-service restaurants with bar service and at limited-service restaurants that provided counter service only. Assessments were made on weekdays and weekends, both during the summer and the fall (with a local university in session) to examine whether the time of week or year affects noise exposures to this population in a college town. In addition, the relationships between noise exposures and the type of restaurant and job classification were assessed. One-hundred eighty full-shift time-weighted average (TWA) exposures were assessed, using both Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria. No TWA measurements exceeded the 90 dBA OSHA 8 hr permissible exposure limit, although six projected TWAs exceeded the 85 dBA OSHA hearing conservation action limit. Using NIOSH criteria, TWAs ranged from 69–90 dBA with a mean of 80 dBA (SD = 4 dBA). Nearly 8% (14) of the exposures exceeded the NIOSH 8-hr 85 dBA. Full-shift exposures were larger for all workers in full-service restaurants (p < 0.001) and for cooks (p = 0.003), regardless of restaurant type. The fall semester (p = 0.003) and weekend (p = 0.048) exposures were louder than summer and weekdays. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that the combination of restaurant type, job classification, and season had a significant effect on restaurant worker noise exposures (p < 0.001) in this college town. While evening/night shift exposures, where noise exposures may be anticipated to be louder, were not assessed, this study identified that restaurant type, job classification, time of week, and season significantly affected the noise exposures for day-shift workers. Intervention studies to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) should consider these variables.

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Noise Exposure and Hearing Impairment among Chinese Restaurant Workers and Entertainment Employees in Hong Kong

Cited by 24 publications

References 26 publications

Survey of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Health in Professional Drivers

Survey of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Health in Professional Drivers

Perda auditiva em trabalhadores do transporte urbano na Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Occupational Noise Exposure of Employees at Locally-Owned Restaurants in a College Town

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