Involuntary and persistent environmental noise influences health and hearing in Beirut, Lebanon.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to assess the effects of involuntary and persistent noise exposure on health and hearing among Lebanese adults in Beirut, Lebanon, where people are exposed to noise from construction sites, power generators, honking cars, and motorcycles.


METHODS
Using a descriptive and exploratory design with mixed methods, participants were surveyed, interviewed, and tested for hearing while street noise levels were measured near their residents and work places.


RESULTS
Self-reports of 83 Lebanese adult, who lived and worked in Beirut, helped identify common patterns in experiences such as irritability, anger, headaches, and sleep disturbances due to noise annoyance. Of those tested, 30% suffered from high-frequency hearing impairment. Our results showed that environmental sound dB had increased by 12% and sound intensity by 400% above the maximum standard level when compared to the WHO report of 1999.


CONCLUSIONS
Environmental noise contributes to premature hearing loss and potentiates systemic diseases among Lebanese.
Council for International Exchange of Scholars, A Division of the Institute of International Education, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Suite 5-L, Washington, DC 20008, USA. fooladi@hotmail.com
Marjaneh M
MM
Fooladi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006304:Health Status; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult