A retrospective analysis of noise-induced hearing loss in the Dutch construction industry

• Published in: International archives of occupational and environmental health 2011-06, Vol.84 (5), p.577-590
• Main Authors: Leensen, M. C. J., van Duivenbooden, J. C., Dreschler, W. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Biological and medical sciences; Construction industry; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Ears & hearing; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Health; Hearing loss; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - epidemiology; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - etiology; Humans; Industry; Male; Medical sciences; Netherlands - epidemiology; Noise; Noise levels; Noise, Occupational - adverse effects; Non tumoral diseases; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Rehabilitation; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0340-0131; 1432-1246
• DOI: 10.1007/s00420-010-0606-3

Purpose Noise exposure is an important and highly prevalent occupational hazard in the construction industry. This study examines hearing threshold levels of a large population of Dutch construction workers and compares their hearing thresholds to those predicted by ISO-1999. Methods In this retrospective study, medical records of periodic occupational health examinations of 29,644 construction workers are analysed. Pure-tone audiometric thresholds of noise-exposed workers are compared to a non-exposed control group and to ISO-1999 predictions. Regression analyses are conducted to explore the relationship between hearing loss and noise intensity, noise exposure time and the use of hearing protection. Results Noise-exposed workers had greater hearing losses compared to their non-noise-exposed colleagues and to the reference population reported in ISO-1999. Noise exposure explained only a small proportion of hearing loss. When the daily noise exposure level rose from 80 dB(A) towards 96 dB(A), only a minor increase in hearing loss is shown. The relation of exposure time and hearing loss found was similar to ISO-1999 predictions when looking at durations of 10 years or more. For the first decade, the population medians show poorer hearing than predicted by ISO-1999. Discussion Duration of noise exposure was a better predictor than noise exposure levels, probably because of the limitations in noise exposure estimations. In this population, noise-induced hearing loss was already present at the beginning of employment and increased at the same rate as is predicted for longer exposure durations.