Nandi Subroto S, Dhatrak Sarang V
National Institute of Miners' Health, JNARDDC Campus, Wadi, Nagpur - 440 023, India.
Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2008 Aug;12(2):53-6. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.43260.
Noise is the insidious of all industrial pollutants, involving every industry and causing severe hearing loss in every country in the world. Exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing impairment. Worldwide, 16% of the disabling hearing loss in adults is attributed to occupational noise, ranging from 7 to 21% in the various subregions. The estimated cost of noise to developed countries ranges from 0.2 to 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is bilateral and symmetrical, usually affecting the higher frequencies (3k, 4k or 6k Hz) and then spreading to the lower frequencies (0.5k, 1k or 2k Hz). Other major health effects are lack of concentration, irritation, fatigue, headache, sleep disturbances, etc. The major industries responsible for excessive noise and exposing workers to hazardous levels of noise are textile, printing, saw mills, mining, etc. Hearing protectors should be used when engineering controls and work practices are not feasible for reducing noise exposure to safe levels. Earmuffs, ear plugs and ear canal caps are the main types of hearing protectors. In India, NIHL has been a compensable disease since 1948. It is only in 1996 that the first case got compensation. Awareness should be created among workers about the harmful effects of noise on hearing and other body systems by implementing compulsory education and training programs. There are very few published studies of NIHL in India. More extensive studies are needed to know the exact prevalence of NIHL among the various industries in India.
噪音是所有工业污染物中最隐蔽的一种，涉及各个行业，在世界各国都导致了严重的听力损失。接触过量噪音是永久性听力损伤的主要可避免原因。在全球范围内，16%的成年人致残性听力损失归因于职业噪音，在各个次区域这一比例从7%到21%不等。据估计，噪音给发达国家造成的成本占国内生产总值（GDP）的0.2%至2%。噪音性听力损失（NIHL）是双侧对称的，通常先影响高频（3千赫、4千赫或6千赫），然后蔓延至低频（0.5千赫、1千赫或2千赫）。其他主要健康影响包括注意力不集中、易怒、疲劳、头痛、睡眠障碍等。造成过量噪音并使工人暴露于危险噪音水平的主要行业有纺织、印刷、锯木厂、采矿等。当工程控制和工作方法无法将噪音暴露降低到安全水平时，应使用听力保护器。耳罩、耳塞和耳道帽是主要的听力保护器类型。在印度，自1948年以来，噪音性听力损失一直是可获赔偿的疾病。直到1996年才有首例获得赔偿的案例。应通过实施义务教育和培训项目，提高工人对噪音对听力和其他身体系统有害影响的认识。印度关于噪音性听力损失的已发表研究很少。需要进行更广泛的研究，以了解印度各行业中噪音性听力损失的确切患病率。
