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Impact of occupational noise exposure on the hearing level in hospital staffs: a longitudinal study

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Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of occupational noise on hearing loss among healthcare workers using audiometry. A longitudinal study was conducted with a six-month follow-up period in a hospital with 21 participants, divided into high-noise-exposure (HNE) and low-noise-exposure (LNE) groups. Mean noise levels were higher in the HNE group (70.4 ± 4.5 dBA), and hearing loss was measured using pure-tone audiometry at baseline and follow-up. The HNE group had significantly higher mean threshold levels at frequencies of 0.25 kHz, 0.5 kHz, 4.0 kHz, and an average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz (all p-values < 0.05) after the follow-up period. After adjusting for confounding factors, the HNE group had significantly higher hearing loss levels at 0.25 kHz, 0.5 kHz, and average frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz compared to the LNE group at the second measurement. Occupational noise levels above 65 dBA over six months were found to cause significant threshold changes at frequencies of 0.25 kHz, 0.5 kHz, and an average of 0.5–4.0 kHz. This study highlights the risk of noise-induced hearing loss among healthcare workers and emphasizes the importance of implementing effective hearing conservation programs in the workplace. Regular monitoring and assessment of noise levels and hearing ability, along with proper use of personal protective equipment, are crucial steps in mitigating the impact of occupational noise exposure on the hearing health of healthcare workers.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available because of confidentiality agreements with participants, but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

dBA:

A-weighted decibel

HNE:

High noise exposure

LAeq:

A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure levels

LNE:

Low noise exposure

NIHL:

Noise-induced hearing loss

ONIHL:

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss

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Acknowledgements

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Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan

    Tang-Chuan Wang & Jia-Yi Lin

  2. Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, No. 199, Section 1Xinglong Road, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, 302056, Taiwan

    Tang-Chuan Wang, You-Cheng Yu & Alan Hsu

  3. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan

    Tang-Chuan Wang, Yung-An Tsou, Chiu-Shong Liu, Chin-An Yang, Sung-Lin Hu, Tzu-Liang Chen, Chia-Der Lin & Pei-Ying Pai

  4. Master Program for Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan

    Tang-Chuan Wang

  5. The Ph.D. Program for Medical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science, College of Biomedical Engineering, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan

    You-Cheng Yu

  6. Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 100, Section 1Jingmao Road, Beitun District, Taichung City, 406040, Taiwan

    Jia-Yi Lin & Ta-Yuan Chang

  7. Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No.250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City, 110, Taiwan

    Kai-Jen Chuang

  8. Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong St. Beitou Dist., Taipei City, 112304, Taiwan

    Wen-Chi Pan

  9. Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung, 406040, Taiwan

    Chien-Yi Ho

  10. Division of Family Medicine, Physical Examination Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, No. 199, Section 1Xinglong Road, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, 302, Taiwan

    Chien-Yi Ho

Authors
  1. Tang-Chuan Wang
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  2. You-Cheng Yu
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  5. Yung-An Tsou
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  6. Chiu-Shong Liu
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  7. Kai-Jen Chuang
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  8. Wen-Chi Pan
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  9. Chin-An Yang
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  12. Tzu-Liang Chen
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  13. Chia-Der Lin
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  14. Pei-Ying Pai
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  15. Ta-Yuan Chang
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Contributions

Tang-Chuan Wang and Ta-Yuan Chang contributed to study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Tang-Chuan Wang, You-Cheng Yu, Jia-Yi Lin, and Alan Hsu. Tang-Chuan Wang and Ta-Yuan Chang wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Yung-An Tsou, Chiu-Shoung Liu, Kai-Jen Chuang, Wen-Chi Pan, Chin-An Yang, Sung-Lin Hu, Chien-Yi Ho, Tzu-Liang Chen, Chia-Der Lin, and Pei-Ying Pai commented on the previous versions of the manuscript and made critical revisions. All the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ta-Yuan Chang.

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Ethical approval

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (no. CMUH108-REC1-054).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Not applicable.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya

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Wang, TC., Yu, YC., Hsu, A. et al. Impact of occupational noise exposure on the hearing level in hospital staffs: a longitudinal study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 24129–24138 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32747-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32747-7

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