title: Noise-induced hearing loss in French police officers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a lack of data about police officers' hearing thresholds and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) associated with this occupation. In France, 129,000 national police officers, 96,000 state police force members and 16000 municipal police officers may be affected by occupational noise exposure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between police employment and NIHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional study using review of medical records. Audiometric and otological data and information on potential confounders were extracted from medical records. Global hearing loss and selective 4000 Hz hearing loss were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of total, 1692 subjects (887 policemen and 805 civil servants) participated in the study. After adjusting for potential cofounders, police officers were 1.4 times more likely to have a selective 4000 Hz hearing loss than civil servants (95% CI 1.1-1.9). This difference was greater between motorcycle police officers and civil servants (OR = 3; 95% CI 1.4-6.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that occupational noise exposure in police work, particularly in motorcycle police officers, may induce hearing loss. Noise sources need to be more accurately defined to confirm high-level noise exposures, to better define significant sources of noise and to identify effective solutions.
authors: UF de Pathologie Professionnelle et Santé au Travail (Occupational Health Department), Hôpital Sébastopol, Reims, France.
authors: François-Xavier
authors: FX
authors: Lesage
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Jovenin
authors: Frederic
authors: F
authors: Deschamps
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016495:Police