Symptoms of Nervous System Related Disorders Among Workers Exposed to Occupational Noise and Vibration in Korea.
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between vibration and noise exposure in the workplace and certain nervous system related symptoms (NSRS) among Korean workers.



Using data from the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey, we investigated the influence of vibration and noise with three categories; none, mild, and severe, on sleep disturbance, overall fatigue, and headache/eye strain using logistic regression analysis with stratification by personal protective equipment (PPE) wearing status.



Severe noise/vibration exposure was associated in a dose-response fashion with NSRS; the odds ratios (ORs) for sleep disturbance, headache/eyestrain, and overall fatigue were 1.48/1.06, 1.46/1.26, and 1.56/1.28 for severe and mild noise/vibration exposure, respectively, compared with no exposure. Workers who did not wear PPEs were the most affected.



Occupational exposures to vibration and noise are associated with NSRS. Additional longitudinal studies and tightened education and safety measures are warranted.
First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan (Lee); The Institute for Occupational Health (Drs Lee, Roh, Won, Yoon); Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul (Drs Roh, Won, Yoon); Incheon Worker's Health Center, Namdong-gu (Drs Lee, Roh, Won, Yoon); and Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Drs Roh, Won, Yoon).
Seunghyun
S
Lee
Wanhyung
W
Lee
Jaehoon
J
Roh
Jong-Uk
JU
Won
Jin-Ha
JH
Yoon
D000328:Adult; D001248:Asthenopia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D014732:Vibration