title: [Do hearing threshold levels in workers of the furniture industry reflect their exposure to noise?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to analyze the hearing status of employees of a furniture factory with respect to their exposure to noise and the presence of additional risk factors of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Noise measurements, questionnaire survey and assessment of hearing, using pure tone audiometry, were carried out in 50 male workers, aged 20-57 years, directly employed in the manufacture of furniture. The actual workers' hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were compared with the predictions calculated according to PN-ISO 1999:2000 based on age, gender and noise exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workers under study were exposed to noise at daily noise exposure levels of 82.7-94.8 dB (mean: 90.9 dB) for a period of 3-14 years. In all subjects, mean HTL at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz did not exceed 25 dB. Nevertheless, high frequency notches were found in 11% of audiograms. The actual workers' HTLs at 3000-6000 Hz were similar to those predicted using PN-ISO 1999:2000. There were statistical significant differences between HTLs in subgroups of people with higher (> 78 mm Hg) and lower (≤ 78 mm Hg) diastolic blood pressure, smokers and non-smokers, and those working with organic solvents. Hearing loss was more evident in subjects affected by the additional risk factors specified above.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm the need to consider, in addition to noise, also some other NIHL risk factors, such as tobacco smoking, elevated blood pressure, and co-exposure to organic solvents when estimating the risk of NIHL and developing the hearing conservation programs for workers. Med Pr 2016;67(3):337-351.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Zagrożeń Fizycznych / Department of Physical Hazards). mpawlusz@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Zagrożeń Fizycznych / Department of Physical Hazards). adudar@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dudarewicz
authors.affiliation: Przychodnia "Mój Lekarz" / Out-Patient Clinic "Mój Lekarz", Brodnica, Poland. norman.czaja@o2.pl.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Czaja
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Fizjologii Pracy i Ergonomii / Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics). alab@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bortkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hearing threshold levels; noise; noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL); occupational exposure; pure-tone audiometry; risk factors of NIHL