The Effect of Occupational Noise Exposure on Blood and Biochemical Parameters

A Case Study of an Insulator Manufacturer in Iran

Authors

  • Somayeh Farhang Dehghan Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Keywords:

dosimetry, occupational exposure, blood parameters, insulator

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational noise is among the most critical occupational hazards, which, in addition to hearing loss, can cause other adverse consequences on an individual’s physical and mental health. Long-term exposure to noise can affect blood and biochemical parameters and subsequently lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the effect of occupational exposure to noise on blood and biochemical parameters of workers in an insulator manufacturing plant.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on workers in the production section (49 people as a case group) and the administrative staff (10 people as a control group) in one insulator manufacturing plant from 2010 to 2014. To assess individual exposure of workers to noise, the noise dosimeter model TES-1355 was used. Noise dosimetry testing was done based on the exposure pattern of workers to noise in compliance with the Iranian national standard (the criterion level of 85 dBA and the exchange rate of Q = 3 dBA). Blood parameters such as blood glucose, cholesterol, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) were studied in production workers (case) and administrative staff (control) over five consecutive years. The data were analyzed by software (SPSS-22) using the t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Fisher exact test, and Greenhouse-Geisser test.

Results: No significant difference was found among the demographic data of the two groups (p > 0.05). Average of glucose and cholesterol levels in the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05) and blood glucose levels in the case group significantly reduced over time and cholesterol increased (p < 0.001). Mean difference of RBC number, WBC number, and serum levels of Hb and Hct was statistically significant between the two groups (p < 0.05). In addition, these hematological parameters increased among workers during these years.

Conclusion: Occupational exposure to noise may have a significant effect on an individual’s blood parameters, which will cause harmful effects on worker health. Therefore, industrialists must take preventive measures in the field of noise control.

 

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Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, Brink M, Clark C, Janssen S, Stansfeld S. Auditory and non-auditory

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Zamanian Z, Monazzam MR, Satyarvand M, Dehghan SF. Presentation of a Model to Identify Dominant

Noise Source in Agricultural Sector of Sugarcane Industry. Adv Environ Biol. 2012. 6 (11), 3002-6.

P Nassiri, MR Monazzam, SF Dehghan, M Jahangiri. The assessment of the environmental and personal

noise in a petrochemical plant. Iran Occupational Health. 2013. 10 (1), 23-32.

Agrawal Y, Niparko JK, Dobie RA. Estimating the effect of occupational noise exposure on hearing

thresholds: the importance of adjusting for confounding variables. Ear Hear. 2010; 31(2): 234-7. doi:

1097/AUD.0b013e3181c6b9fd, PMID: 20075736.

Ising H, Kruppa B. Health effects caused by noise: evidence in the literature from the past 25 years. Noise

Health. 2004; 6(22): 5-13. PMID: 15070524.

Chepesiuk R. Decibel hell: the effects of living in a noisy world. Environ Health Perspect. 2005; 113(1):

A34-41. PMID: 15631958, PMCID: PMC1253729.

Lang T, Fouriaud C, Jacquinet-Salord MC. Length of occupational noise exposure and blood pressure. Int

Arch Occup Environ Health. 1992; 63(6): 369-72, doi: 10.1007/BF00386929, PMID: 1544682

Nassiri P, Monazzam MR , Asghari M, Zakerian SA, Dehghan SF, Folladi B, et al. The interactive effect

of industrial noise type, level and frequency characteristics on occupational skills. Perform Enhanc Health.

doi: 10.1016/j.peh.2015.01.001

Naravane S. Effect of industrial noise on occupational skill performance capability. Unpublished Master of

Science’s thesis. Binghamton, USA: State University of New York, 2009.

Tak S, Davies RR, Calvert GM. Exposure to hazardous workplace noise and use of hearing protection

devices among US workers-NHANES, 1999-2004. Am J Ind Med. 2009; 52(5): 358-71. doi:

1002/ajim.20690, PMID: 19267354.

Seixas NS, Goldman B, Sheppard L, Neitzel R, Norton S, Kujawa SG. Prospective noise induced changes

to hearing among construction industry apprentices. Occup Environ Med. 2005;62(5): 309-17. PMID:

Clerici WJ, DiMartino DL, Prasad MR. Direct effects of reactive oxygen species on cochlear outer hair cell

shape in vitro. Hear Res. 1995; 84(1-2): 30-40. PMID: 7642453.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EASHW). Monitoring the state of occupational safety

and health in the European Union—pilot study. Luxembourg, EASHW, 2000. Avilable from:

https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and- publications/publications/reports/401.

Morata TC, Fiorini AC, Fischer FM, Colacioppo S, Wallingford KM, Krieg EF, et al. Toluene-induced

hearing loss among rotogravure printing workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997; 23(4): 289-98, doi:

5271/sjweh.222, PMID: 9322820.

Kopke RD, Weisskopf PA, Boon JL, Jackson RL, Wester DC, Hoffer ME, et al. Reduction of noiseinduced hearing loss using L-NAC and salicylate in the chinchilla. Hear Res. 2000; 149(1-2): 138-46, doi:

1016/S0378-5955(00)00176-3, PMID: 11033253.

Linsley T. Basic electrical installation work, 6th ed. Waltham: Elsevier, 2011.

Gish NE. Collector's Guide for Porcelain Insulators. Lumberton: Elton Gish, 2015.

Nassiri P, Dehghan SF, Monazzam MR. A prioritization approach for noise risk management in a

petrochemical complex. J Occup Health. 2013; 55(3): 204-10. PMID: 23485573

Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, Brink M, Clark C, Janssen S, Stansfeld S. Auditory and non-auditory

effects of noise on health. Lancet. 2014;383(9925):1325-32. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X. PMID:

Zamanian Z, Monazzam MR, Satyarvand M, Dehghan SF. Presentation of a Model to Identify Dominant

Noise Source in Agricultural Sector of Sugarcane Industry. Adv Environ Biol. 2012. 6 (11), 3002-6.

P Nassiri, MR Monazzam, SF Dehghan, M Jahangiri. The assessment of the environmental and personal

noise in a petrochemical plant. Iran Occupational Health. 2013. 10 (1), 23-32.

Agrawal Y, Niparko JK, Dobie RA. Estimating the effect of occupational noise exposure on hearing

thresholds: the importance of adjusting for confounding variables. Ear Hear. 2010; 31(2): 234-7. doi:

1097/AUD.0b013e3181c6b9fd, PMID: 20075736.

Ising H, Kruppa B. Health effects caused by noise: evidence in the literature from the past 25 years. Noise

Health. 2004; 6(22): 5-13. PMID: 15070524.

Chepesiuk R. Decibel hell: the effects of living in a noisy world. Environ Health Perspect. 2005; 113(1):

A34-41. PMID: 15631958, PMCID: PMC1253729.

Lang T, Fouriaud C, Jacquinet-Salord MC. Length of occupational noise exposure and blood pressure. Int

Arch Occup Environ Health. 1992; 63(6): 369-72, doi: 10.1007/BF00386929, PMID: 1544682

Published

2022-02-12