[Assessment of acoustic environment and its effect on hearing in jet engine technical personnel].
BACKGROUND
Noise produced by jet engines may be harmful to aircraft servicing personnel because of high levels of acoustic pressure. The aim of the study was to assess the acoustic environment of persons exposed to jet engine noise and its effect on hearing.


METHODS
Noise measurements were performed on three jet engines. During the target practice, the following parameters were measured: equivalent noise, pressure level A, maximum sound pressure level A, and peak sound pressure level C. The spectro-analysis covering the range from 0.1 to 20 kHz was conducted. Hearing was assessed in 50 noise-exposed men, aged 24-51 years (mean age, 35.5 years), using PTA, tympanometry and DPOAE. The control group consisted of 40 non-exposed persons with good hearing condition.


RESULTS
Maximum levels of acoustic pressure exceeded Polish standards. Comparison between two groups showed that PTA was higher in the exposed persons by 6.3-6.8 dB on average and DPOAE was reduced in the group exposed to jet engine noise more than it could have been expected.


CONCLUSIONS
Even during a single test, aircraft technical personnel was exposed to (audible) noise that significantly exceeded admissible values. The reduction in DPOAE values in persons exposed to noise of jet engines was incommensurably higher than changes in PTA.
Konopka
Wiesław
W
Zakładu Diagnostyki Audiologicznej i Elektrofizjologicznej, Katedry Chirurgii Glłowy i Szyi, Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lodzi. konopka@achilles.wam.lodz.pl
Pawlaczyk-Luszczyńska
Małgorzata
M
Straszyński
Piotr
P
Sliwińska-Kowalska
Mariola
M
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D011044:Poland; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity