Occupational Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss Among Car Smoothers in Qazvin

Backgrounds and Indusrial noise exposure is the most common hazardous agent in the world.This study has been done to determine the prevalence associated with occupational noise in car smoothers at qazvin.Materials and The study group composed of 50 subjects who were selected out of a total of 218 car smoothing workshops.Background information,exposure time and.with a questionnaire collected.Noise exposure and hearing loss were measured by noise dosimeter model CEL-280 and audiometer model OB 288 Madsen. The mean of age and work experience were 38.7 and 21.5 respectively.Noise exposure and total hearing loss were measured 98.2±3.4 dB(90-104dB) and 22.1±9.16 dB respectively. Spireman correlation was significant between right and left ears(P<0.05, R=0.87).Total hearing loss were measured natural(NIHL!25) in 64 percent(32 person),slight(26! NIHL!40)in 34 percent(17 person) and moderate (41! NIHL!60) in 2 percent (1 person).The most and the least hearing loss were measured 42.4(4000 HZ) and 37.1(8000 HZ) dB in left and right ear respectively. The chi square analysis was significant between hearing loss,work experience and age (P=0.015). ANOVA analysis was not significant between noise exposure and hearing loss(P=0.09).Considering NIHL and severe noise exposure, the necessity for improvement of controlling and protection measures has prime importance.