title: A multicenter study on the audiometric findings of styrene-exposed workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate hearing loss among workers exposed to styrene, alone or with noise.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of NoiseChem, a European Commission 5th Framework Programme research project, by occupational health institutes in Finland, Sweden, and Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' ages ranged from 18-72 years (n = 1620 workers). Participants exposed to styrene, alone or with noise, were from reinforced fiberglass products manufacturing plants (n = 862). Comparison groups were comprised of workers noise-exposed (n = 400) or controls (n = 358). Current styrene exposures ranged from 0 to 309 mg/m(3), while mean current noise levels ranged from 70-84 dB(A). Hearing thresholds of styrene-exposed participants were compared with Annexes A and B from ANSI S3.44, 1996.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The audiometric thresholds of styrene exposed workers were significantly poorer than those in published standards. Age, gender, and styrene exposure met the significance level criterion in the multiple logistic regression for the binary outcome 'hearing loss' (P = 0.0000). Exposure to noise (<85 dBA p = 0.0001; ≥85 dB(A) p = 0.0192) interacted significantly with styrene exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational exposure to styrene is a risk factor for hearing loss, and styrene-exposed workers should be included in hearing loss prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. tmorata@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Thais C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Morata
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sliwinska-Kowalska
authors.forename: Ann-Christin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Starck
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pawlas
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zamyslowska-Szmytke
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nylen
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toppila
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pawlas
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prasher
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020058:Styrene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D020058:Styrene