Noise-induced hearing loss and hearing conservation in mining.
BACKGROUND
Noise exposure is prevalent in mining, and as the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss has not changed much in the past two decades, hearing conservation is an important issue.


OBJECTIVE
To review the literature and highlight important developments in the field.


METHODS
A review of the literature using OVID as the primary search engine, using the search terms as: noise, occupational; hearing loss, noise induced; ear protective devices; and mining.


RESULTS
A total of 66 articles were found, but only 11 were in the English language and few were published in the past 10 years. This is disappointing, because neither noise exposure nor the consequent risk of noise-induced hearing loss seems to have changed much in the past 20 years. Noise is, however, a generic hazard, and this article reviews current best practice in prevention.
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. mcbride@gandalf.otago.ac.nz
David I
DI
McBride
D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D006304:Health Status; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology