Impact of noise and toluene on workers’ hearing in an footwear industry

Introduction: The noise can bring with itself other aggravating factors, such as toluene in occupational environment. Studies suggest that concomitant exposure to both agents may cause more severe hearing changes than only one. Aim: To investigate the impact of noise and toluene on workers’ auditory...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Araújo, Renato Jonatas da Silva, Silva, Nancy Sotero, Batista, Emykaelly Kauanne Lima, Gonçalves, Valéria de Sá Barreto, Soares, Jaims Franklin Ribeiro, Andrade, Wagner Teobaldo Lopes de
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2022
País:Brasil
Recursos:Universidade Federal de Itajubá (UNIFEI)
Repositório:Research, Society and Development
Idioma:português
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/25972
Acesso em linha:https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/25972
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Ruído
Tolueno
Ototoxicidade
Perda auditiva ocupacional.
Ruido
Ototoxicidad
Hipoacusia ocupacional.
Noise
Toluene
Ototoxicity
Occupational hearing loss.
Descrição
Resumo:Introduction: The noise can bring with itself other aggravating factors, such as toluene in occupational environment. Studies suggest that concomitant exposure to both agents may cause more severe hearing changes than only one. Aim: To investigate the impact of noise and toluene on workers’ auditory health in an industry of footwear and sports materials. Method: The study was done through audiometric data of 729 workers of a footwear and sports materials industry, who had a Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HLPP) deployed and under execution, with three groups: (1) exposed to toluene and noise, (2) exposed to noise alone and (3) non exposed. A cross-over between variables, type and time of exposure to agents and sex was performed. The study was approved by Ethical Committee of Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley under number 2.164.722. Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between the mean auditory thresholds and the groups studied. Among the exposed workers, there was a positive but negligible correlation between time and auditory thresholds, the latter being significantly higher in males. Conclusion: In the studied industry, there was no significant differences in hearing of workers exposed to noise alone, exposed to noise and toluene, and not exposed.