The relationship between occupational noise and vibration exposure and headache/eyestrain, based on the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS)

Abstract

IntroductionThe individual and combined effect of occupational noise and vibration exposures, on workers’ health has not been thoroughly investigated. In order to find better ways to prevent and manage workers’ headache, this study aimed to investigate the effects of occupational noise and vibration exposure on headache/eyestrain.MethodsWe used data from the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (2014). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25,751 workers were included. Occupational noise and vibration exposure and the prevalence of headache/eyestrain were investigated by self-reported survey. Chi-square tests were used to compare differences in baseline characteristics between the group with headache/eyestrain and the group without. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a logistic regression model adjusted for several covariates. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) analysis was used to evaluate the effect of occupational noise and/or vibration exposure.ResultsAmong the 25,751 study subjects, 4,903 had experienced headache/eyestrain in the preceding year. There were significant differences in age, education level, household income, occupational classification, shift work, occupational vibration exposure, and occupational noise exposure between the two groups (all p<0.05). The odds ratios between each exposure and headache/eyestrain increased proportionally with the level of exposure, increasing from 1.08 to 1.26 with increasing vibration exposure, and from 1.25 to 1.41 with increasing noise exposure. According to the AUROC analysis, the predictive power of each exposure was significant, and increased when the two exposures were considered in combination.DiscussionThe findings of this study show that both occupational noise and vibration exposures are associated with headache/eyestrain; noise exposure more strongly so. However, when the two exposures are considered in combination, the explanatory power for headache/eyestrain is increased. Therefore, efforts aimed at reducing and managing occupational noise and vibration exposure are crucial to maintaining workers’ health.

Prevalência de exposição a ruído ocupacional em trabalhadores brasileiros: resultados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013

“…No conjunto, essas reações repercutem negativamente sobre o ciclo sono-vigília e explicam a redução do desempenho cognitivo que se manifesta em déficit da atenção, memória e vigília. Essas últimas, por sua vez, estão na origem de acidentes de trabalho 11,26 . Em uma região industrial do Brasil, o risco relativo de acidentar-se foi 3,7 e 5 vezes maior quando o trabalhador informou estar, às vezes ou sempre, respectivamente, exposto a ruído 27 .…”

“…Trauma acústico resulta de um ruído inesperado e intenso, maior que ou igual a 140 decibéis (dB), denominado ruído de impacto, com prováveis danos para o sistema auditivo 10 . Efeitos não auditivos, como dor de cabeça e fadiga ocular 11 ou hipertensão 12 , são reconhecidos. Em combinação com prejuízos da audição, as comorbidades são altamente prevalentes, tanto em coortes de idosos quanto de jovens 13 .…”

Association between Occupational Noise and Vibration Exposure and Insomnia among Workers in Korea

“…The synergistic effect of noise and vibration has been proven in prior studies on health outcomes such as hearing loss [36,37], headache/eyestrain [7], and cognitive performance [38]. The rationale behind investigating the effect of both noise and vibration with insomnia is that, for instance, when handling large equipment or driving large vehicles, workers are often exposed to noise and vibration simultaneously in their work environments.…”

“…Exposure to environmental stressors such as noise and vibration and their detrimental effects on health and diseases have been explored frequently in other studies. Some of these effects include, but are not limited to, physiological conditions such as hearing loss [1], cardiac and vascular problems [2,3], and elevated blood pressure [4,5], as well as nervous system-related disorders such as stress, annoyance [6], headache/eye strain [7], fatigue [8], and perhaps the most prominent nervous system issue-insomnia/sleep disturbance [9][10][11].…”

Community Regulation in Noise Control Towards Less Noise City

“…Noise during the practice of firing a shotgun can penetrate the cochlea before the acoustic reflex is activated. The condition is associated with acoustic trauma and noise of more than 140 dB causes permanent and irreversible hearing loss [10,11].…”