title: Hearing loss in workers exposed to epoxy adhesives and noise: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epoxy adhesives contain organic solvents and are widely used in industry. The hazardous effects of epoxy adhesives remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk of hearing loss among workers exposed to epoxy adhesives and noise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this cross-sectional study, we recruited 182 stone workers who were exposed to both epoxy adhesives and noise, 89 stone workers who were exposed to noise only, and 43 workers from the administrative staff who had not been exposed to adhesives or noise. We obtained demographic data, occupational history and medical history through face-to-face interviews and arranged physical examinations and pure-tone audiometric tests. We also conducted walk-through surveys in the stone industry. A total of 40 representative noise assessments were conducted in 15 workplaces. Air sampling was conducted at 40 workplaces, and volatile organic compounds were analysed using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) TO-15 method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean sound pressure level was 87.7 dBA (SD 9.9). The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss was considerably increased in the stone workers exposed to epoxy adhesives (42%) compared with the stone workers who were not exposed to epoxy adhesives (21%) and the administrative staff group (9.3%). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that exposure to epoxy adhesives significantly increased the risk of hearing loss between 2 and 6 kHz after adjusting for age. Significant interactions between epoxy adhesives and noise and hearing impairment were observed at 3, 4 and 6 kHz.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epoxy adhesives exacerbate hearing impairment in noisy environments, with the main impacts occurring in the middle and high frequencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Green Energy & Environmental Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ruei-Hao
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Shie
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pau-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D004852:Epoxy Compounds
keywords: epoxy resins; noise-induced hearing loss; solvent; volatile organic compounds