Noise causes hearing loss among Chinese workers
Many Chinese workers who are exposed to noise have a noise-induced hearing loss, according to a study.
The Chinese study found that the prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among noise exposed workers in China was 21.3%, of which 30.2% was related to high-frequency NIHL (HFNIHL), 9.0% to speech-frequency NIHL and 5.8% to noise-induced deafness.
Gender and age
Male workers were more likely to experience high-frequency NIHL (HFNIHL) than female workers.
Age, noise level and exposure duration were all risk factors for high-frequency NIHL.
About the study
The study included a total of 71,865 workers who were occupationally exposed to excessive noise for longer periods in the transportation, mining and typical manufacturing industries.
The researchers behind the study searched databases and analysed literature for studies on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in China published between 1993 and 2019 and analysed the correlation between NIHL and occupational exposure to noise, including exposure to complex noise and co-exposure to noise and chemicals.
The study, "Occupational noise-induced hearing loss in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis", was published in the journal BMJ Open.
Sources: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and BMJ Open