[Noise hazard and hearing loss in workers in automotive component manufacturing industry in Guangzhou, China].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate noise hazard and its influence on hearing loss in workers in the automotive component manufacturing industry.


METHODS
Noise level in the workplace of automotive component manufacturing enterprises was measured and hearing examination was performed for workers to analyze the features and exposure levels of noise in each process, as well as the influence on hearing loss in workers.


RESULTS
In the manufacturing processes for different products in this industry, the manufacturing processes of automobile hub and suspension and steering systems had the highest degrees of noise hazard, with over-standard rates of 79.8% and 57.1%, respectively. In the different technical processes for automotive component manufacturing, punching and casting had the highest degrees of noise hazard, with over-standard rates of 65.0% and 50%, respectively. The workers engaged in the automotive air conditioning system had the highest rate of abnormal hearing ability (up to 3.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
In the automotive component manufacturing industry, noise hazard exceeds the standard seriously. Although the rate of abnormal hearing is lower than the average value of the automobile manufacturing industry in China, this rate tends to increase gradually. Enough emphasis should be placed on the noise hazard in this industry.
Guangzhou Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Guangzhou 510620, China.
Zhi
Z
Wang
Jiabin
J
Liang
Xing
X
Rong
Hao
H
Zhou
Chuanwei
C
Duan
Weijia
W
Du
Yimin
Y
Liu
D001336:Automobiles; D002681:China; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations; D017132:Workplace