title: [Investigation of occupational noise exposure and hearing loss in large automobile manufacturing enterprise during 2006-2010 in Guangzhou, China].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relationship between occupational noise exposure and hearing loss among workers in large automobile manufacturing enterprise during 2006-2010 in Guangzhou, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The subjects were divided into noise exposure group and control group. Their hearing examination results and noise exposure levels in different workplaces were collected during 2006-2010, and the relationship between noise exposure in workplaces and hearing loss was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of hearing loss for the noise exposure group was 9.34%, versus 2.75% for the control group; the noise exposure group had a significantly higher risk of hearing loss than the control group (R = 3.378, 95%CI = 1.467∼ 9.083). The noise intensity and over-limit rate were significantly higher in the stamping, welding, and general assembly workshops than in other workshops. The risk of hearing loss significantly increased with years of noise exposure in 80, 85, and 90 dB (A) groups (χ(2) = 6.377, P = 0.041; χ(2) = 8.570, P = 0.014; χ(2) = 7.037, P = 0.030). The risk of hearing loss also increased with noise intensity in all working age groups (χ(2) = 5.068, P = 0.024; χ(2) = 71.497, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 24.226, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Noise exposure increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss in workers. The incidence of hearing loss increases with the noise intensity in workplaces and years of noise exposure. The noise exposure level and incidence of hearing loss are higher in the stamping workshop than in other workshops. Controlling the noise intensity in automobile manufacturing enterprise may reduce the risk of hearing loss in workers.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Lvwu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. E-mail: ymliu61@163.com.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001336:Automobiles; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult