[Effect of acoustic microclimate prevailing in shipyards on the health of workers].

Yearly measurements of external noise (Noise--Pollution--Level) in the shipyard in Stettin, indicated noise levels above 85 dBA, expressed in LqM. On the ground of documentation of periodic medical examinations of the staff, one compared the rate of occurrence of disturbances in health state, such as: hearing impairment, gastric and duodenal peptic ulcer, hypertension and psychic disturbances in two groups of employees: "A"--exposed during work to noise 85 dBA and "B"--employed at the area of LqM smaller by 20 dBA. Statistically significant differences in the rates of occurrence of disturbances in the health state were found, to the disadvantage of those exposed to noise effect. In these groups also the rate of sickness absenteeism was disadvantageous: in the last 14 years its average values for the shipyard surpassed the average rate for Stettin district and the whole country.