Prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss in drivers

Background: Adverse short-term and long-term health effects following a high level of noise have been established. The current study aims to find the relationship of these effects with an environment-specific level of noise exposure. Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 auto-rickshaw drivers and 51 age-matched service-sector employees. The peak average noise exposure in decibels (dB) was measured. The duration of exposure and response regarding perceptions following noise exposure was assessed through a pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the participants was 42.24 (±13.72) years. Among the auto-rickshaw drivers, 82% perceived stress, 64% had hearing difficulty, and 74% complained of lack of sleep following exposure to a high level of noise. However, the perceptions were comparable among the comparison group and the differences were not statistically significant. The mean average peak level of noise exposure among drivers and their comparison group was 91.64 (±7.37) dB and 91.98 (± 8.06) dB, respectively, but were not different statistically. Around 52.94% of the service-sector respondents and 48% of the drivers were exposed to the lower cumulative noise levels. Those having a higher level of cumulative noise exposure, had a higher odds of feeling irritated (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.182, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.845–5.636), feeling stressed (OR: 5.805, 95% CI: 1.552–21.708), having palpitation (OR: 3.694, 95% CI: 1.264–10.793), and lack of sleep (OR: 3.020, 95% CI: 1.006–9.066). Conclusion: Stress and lack of sleep were the most important perceived effects of noise exposure. The exposures to the higher cumulative noise level in specified groups were more important in relation to quantifying perceived symptoms than the average peak noise level.

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“…In Sao Paolo, Brazil similar study shows the prevalence of hearing loss among drivers was 22%. [ 9 ]…”

Section: Discussionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative Noise Exposure and Perceived Effects

Chakraborty

Lahiri

Dasgupta

et al. 2022

Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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“…The prevalence of hearing loss was taken 22.36–22.00% among professional drivers. This was taken from the studied done by Lopes et al 25 . The confidence interval was taken 95% (5% significance level) and the precision was taken as 7% after due deliberation with the experts to keep the sample size reasonable to perform the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Statistical estimation of noise induced hearing loss among the drivers in one of the most polluted cities of India

Manar,

Singh,

Bajpai

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess the impact of vehicular noise upon the 3-wheeler tempo drivers and to know whether there is any relationship between hearing loss and cumulative noise exposure. For this purpose, 3-wheeler tempo drivers (Exposed group) and non-commercial light motor vehicle car drivers (Unexposed group) were chosen as study subjects. Three traffic routes were selected to assess the noise level during waiting and running time in the exposed and unexposed groups. Among all three routes, the highest mean noise level (Leq) was observed on the Chowk to Dubagga route for waiting and en-route noise measurement. It was measured as 84.13 dB(A) and 86.36 dB(A) for waiting and en-route periods of 7.68 ± 3.46 and 31.05 ± 6.6 min, respectively. Cumulative noise exposure was found to be significantly different (p < 0.001) in all age groups of exposed and unexposed drivers. Audiometric tests have been performed over both exposed and unexposed groups. The regression analysis has been done keeping hearing loss among tempo drivers as the dependent variable and age (years) and Energy (Pa2 Hrs) as the independent variable using three different criteria of hearing loss definitions, i.e., World Health Organization, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration criteria. Among these three criteria, the NIOSH criterion of hearing loss best explained the independent variables. It could explain the total variation in dependent variable by independent variable quite well, i.e., 68.1%. The finding showed a linear relationship between cumulative noise exposures (Pa2 Hrs) and the exposed group's hearing loss (dB), i.e., hearing loss increases with increasing noise dose. Based on the findings, two model equations were developed to identify the safe and unsafe noise levels with exposure time.

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“…These classifications of noise are emitted in the mines at varying frequencies and intensities (Basner et al, 2014). Excessive occupational noise levels and exposure to such noise have been documented to cause occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL), tinnitus, disturbance in speech communication and increased risks of accidents (Lie et al, 2016;Lopes, Otowiz, Lopes, Lauris, & Santos, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering noise control for mines: Lessons from the world

Madahana¹,

Nyandoro²,

Moroe³

2020

South African Journal of Communication Disorders

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Results: Some of the case studies used have cited a reduction in the noise intensity emitted by machinery from a range of 93 dBA -104 dBA to a range of 90 dBA -94 dBA, demonstrating quite a significant reduction in the noise emission of the equipment. This article further provides recommendations on how South African mines could contextualise these methods. Conclusion:One of the key recommendations is encouraging the South African mining industry towards the documenting and publishing of those engineering noise control methodologies that have proven to be effective for shared best practice. A need was identified for extensive research to be conducted and documented evidence to be made available to assist the South African mining industry with locating and assessing current engineering controls available in South Africa. Machines and processes that require noise control should be identified and, lastly, the current barriers to the use of engineering noise control methodologies should be identified, with the main goals of finding ways to overcome the noise challenges in the mines.

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Prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss in drivers

Cited by 20 publications

References 3 publications

Cumulative Noise Exposure and Perceived Effects

Cumulative Noise Exposure and Perceived Effects

Statistical estimation of noise induced hearing loss among the drivers in one of the most polluted cities of India

Engineering noise control for mines: Lessons from the world

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