STUDY ON FACTORY WORKERS EXPOSED TO 24-HOURS NOISE BY INDIVIDUAL MEASUREMENT, AND NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS

• Main Authors: Hsiao Chin Cheng, 蕭金政
• Other Authors: Kuo Hung Liang;Ko Ying Chin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1993
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/32324012022639493458

碩士 === 高雄醫學院 === 公共衛生學研究所 === 81 === The purpose of this study is to measure the amount of noise factory workers in Taiwan are exposed to during a continuous 24 hours period. Effect of the noise exposure on factory workers will be measured at different times of the day. Furthermore, the present study investigates the effect of noise exposure on one''s hearing ability by measuring one''s hearing thresholds. Hearing ability of farmers in areas of less noise exposure is compared to those of factory workers. The results indicate that the amount of noise exposure for factory workers during a 24 hours period is Leq＝84.2±5.7dB(A) and for far farmers is Leq ＝75.8±3.3dB(A). This differance is significant (p<0.01). Forty-three percent factory workers during a 24 hours period were exprsed to an average of 85dB(A) or more. Seventy percent factory workers during working hours were exposed to an average of 85dB(A) or more. The hearing threshold for factory workers at 4 KHz and 6KHz is obviously higher than other frequencies. Using a hearing threshold criteria of 20dB or more to measure risk of hearing impairment, the risk factor for factory workers without earplugs is 38.8% at 1KHz and 57.6% at 4KHz and 49.4% at 8KHz. The noise exposure for this group is much higher than that of factory workers with earplugs and farmers. Factory workers without earplugs were exposed during working hours to 85dB(A) or more had a risk of impairment of 46.0% at 1KHz and 69.8% at 4 KHz and 61.9% at 8KHz. From this study, we find that the amount of noise exposure for factory workers in Taiwan is much higher than that for farmers in non-industrial areas. Hearing impairment caused by noise is very serious. Preventing damage from noise to protect the health of workers is currently a very important issue in occupational health.