Noise-induced hearing loss in French police officers.
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.
Lesage
François-Xavier
FX
UF de Pathologie Professionnelle et Santé au Travail (Occupational Health Department), Hôpital Sébastopol, Reims, France.
Jovenin
Nicolas
N
Deschamps
Frederic
F
Vincent
Samuel
S
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