Graph of prevalence of hearing loss over time for workers in various sectors in the United States[1]
Occupational hearing loss (OHL) is hearing loss that occurs as a result of occupational hazards, such as excessive noise and ototoxic chemicals. Noise is a common workplace hazard, and recognized as the risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus but it is not the only risk factor that can result in a work-related hearing loss.[2] Also, noise-induced hearing loss can result from exposures that are not restricted to the occupational setting.[citation needed]
OHL is a prevalent occupational concern in various work environments worldwide.[3] In the United States, organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) work with employers and workers to reduce or eliminate occupational hearing hazards through a hierarchy of hazard controls. OHL is one of the most common work-related illness in the United States.[4] Occupational hearing hazards include industrial noise, and exposure to various ototoxic chemicals.[5][6] Combined exposure to both industrial noise and ototoxic chemicals may cause more damage than either one would in isolation.[7] Many chemicals have not been tested for ototoxicity, so unknown threats may exist.
A 2016 study by NIOSH found that the mining sector had the highest prevalence of hearing impairment at 17%, followed by the construction sector (16%) and the manufacturing sector (14%). The public safety sector had the lowest rate of hearing impairment, at 7%.[8] Overall, audiometric records show that about 33% of working-age adults with a history of occupational noise exposure have evidence of noise-induced hearing damage, and 16% of noise-exposed workers have material hearing impairment.[9] In the service sector the prevalence of hearing loss was 17% compared to 16% for all industries combined.[10] Several sub-sectors however exceeded the overall prevalence (10-33% higher) and/or had adjusted risks significantly higher than the reference industry. Workers in Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development had the highest prevalence (50%), and workers in Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators had more than double the risk, the highest of any sub-sector. Some sub-sectors traditionally viewed as "low-risk" such as Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, and financial sub-sectors (Credit Unions, Call centers), and also had high prevalences and risks.[10]
Personal protective equipment, administrative controls, and engineering controls can all work to reduce exposure to noise and chemicals, either by providing the worker with protection such as earplugs, or by reducing the noise or chemicals at the source or limiting the time or level of exposure.
^Masterson EA, Deddens JA, Themann CL, Bertke S, Calvert GM (April 2015). "Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010". American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 58 (4): 392–401. doi:10.1002/ajim.22429. PMC 4557728. PMID 25690583.
^Themann, Christa L.; Masterson, Elizabeth A. (2019). "Occupational noise exposure: A review of its effects, epidemiology, and impact with recommendations for reducing its burden". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 146 (5): 3879–3905. Bibcode:2019ASAJ..146.3879T. doi:10.1121/1.5134465. ISSN 0001-4966. PMID 31795665. S2CID 208626669.
^Liu Y, Wang H, Weng S, Su W, Wang X, Guo Y, Yu D, Du L, Zhou T, Chen W, Shi T (2015-06-04). "Occupational Hearing Loss among Chinese Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study". PLOS ONE. 10 (6): e0128719. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1028719L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128719. PMC 4455999. PMID 26042421.
^Themann C, Suter A, Stephenson M (2013). "National Research Agenda for the Prevention of Occupational Hearing Loss—Part 1". Seminars in Hearing. 34 (3): 145–207. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1349351. S2CID 256740944.
^Johnson AC, Morata TC (2010). "Occupational exposure to chemicals and hearing impairment. The Nordic Expert Group for Criteria Documentation of Health Risks from Chemicals" (PDF). Arbete och Hälsa. 44 (4): 177.
^"Preventing hearing loss caused by chemical (ototoxicity) and noise exposure". NIOSH. 2018-03-01. doi:10.26616/nioshpub2018124.
^Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Zamyslowska-Szmytke E, Szymczak W, Kotylo P, Fiszer M, Wesolowski W, Pawlaczyk-Luszczynska M (May 2005). "Exacerbation of noise-induced hearing loss by co-exposure to workplace chemicals". Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 19 (3): 547–53. doi:10.1016/j.etap.2004.12.018. PMID 21783525.
^Masterson, Elizabeth A.; Bushnell, P. Timothy; Themann, Christa L.; Morata, Thais C. (2016). "Hearing Impairment Among Noise-Exposed Workers — United States, 2003–2012 | MMWR". MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 65 (15): 389–394. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6515a2. PMID 27101435.
^Themann, Christa L.; Masterson, Elizabeth A. (2019-11-11). "Occupational noise exposure: A review of its effects, epidemiology, and impact with recommendations for reducing its burden". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 146 (5): 3879. Bibcode:2019ASAJ..146.3879T. doi:10.1121/1.5134465. ISSN 1520-8524. PMID 31795665.
^ abSekhon, Nimarpreet K.; Masterson, Elizabeth A.; Themann, Christa L. (2020-12-01). "Prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers within the services sector, 2006–2015". International Journal of Audiology. 59 (12): 948–961. doi:10.1080/14992027.2020.1780485. ISSN 1499-2027. PMC 10040315. PMID 32608279. S2CID 220284470.
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