Hearing effects from intermittent and continuous noise exposure in a study of Korean factory workers and firefighters.

ABSTRACT:

Background

South Korea and surrounding countries in East Asia are believed to have the highest proportion in the world of high frequency hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure, yet there has been limited information published in international journals, and limited information for control of noise in local workplaces beyond strategies from western countries. We exploit medical surveillance information from two worker groups to enhance local knowledge about noise-induced hearing loss and explore the possible importance of shift work to risk.

Methods

Four-years of hearing data were evaluated for 81 male farm machine factory workers and 371 male firefighters who had successfully completed a health examination and questionnaires for the duration of the study period. The

SUBMITTER: Chung IS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3280190 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature