Wu T N, Liou S H, Shen C Y, Hsu C C, Chao S L, Wang J H, Chang S F, Ko K N, Chiang H C, Chang P Y
Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Prev Med. 1998 Jan-Feb;27(1):65-9. doi: 10.1006/pmed.1997.0238.
To understand the extent of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among noise-exposed workers, an ongoing public health surveillance system (Program to Reduce Exposure by Surveillance System or PRESS-NIHL) was established in Taiwan in 1995 to monitor the prevalence of NIHL.
A total of 9,535 noise-exposed (> 85 dBA) workers were recruited into PRESS-NIHL from January to June 1995. Each received a periodic annual audiometric examination at 1 of 73 well-qualified audiometric examination rooms in accredited hospitals. Among those examined, 9,463 audiograms were acceptable for evaluation to determine the severity of NIHL at 4K Hz.
The mean hearing threshold at 4K Hz was 36.8 dB among male workers and 29.7 dB among female workers. The mean hearing loss at 4K Hz of male workers was higher than that of female workers. Among both men and women, hearing ability was found to decrease with increasing age. A total of 3,216 (34.0%) workers were found to have NIHL, with a hearing threshold higher than 40 dB (NIHL) in either one or both ears. Among these workers, 1,886 (19.9%) had mild NIHL (hearing threshold between 40 and 55 dB) and 1,330 (14.1%) had severe NIHL (hearing threshold above 55 dB) in either one or both ears. The proportion of severe NIHL was higher in certain industries, including construction (38.6%), ship building/repairing (19.2%), and weapon manufacturing (13.6%).
This surveillance system for NIHL is on of the first surveillance systems in the world established to monitor and control NIHL in the setting of industrial hygiene and occupational disease prevention. Our finding of a high prevalence of NIHL in certain industries will trigger immediate actions to control noise hazard, which in turn will provide better protection for noise-exposed workers.
为了解噪声暴露工人中噪声性听力损失（NIHL）的程度，1995年台湾建立了一个持续运行的公共卫生监测系统（通过监测系统降低暴露计划或PRESS-NIHL）来监测NIHL的患病率。
1995年1月至6月，共有9535名噪声暴露（>85分贝）工人被纳入PRESS-NIHL。每人在经认可医院的73个资质良好的听力检查室中的1个接受定期年度听力检查。在接受检查的人中，9463份听力图可用于评估，以确定4千赫兹时NIHL的严重程度。
男性工人4千赫兹时的平均听力阈值为36.8分贝，女性工人为29.7分贝。男性工人4千赫兹时的平均听力损失高于女性工人。在男性和女性中，听力能力均随年龄增长而下降。共有3216名（34.0%）工人被发现患有NIHL，一只或两只耳朵的听力阈值高于40分贝（NIHL）。在这些工人中，1886名（19.9%）患有轻度NIHL（听力阈值在40至55分贝之间），1330名（14.1%）一只或两只耳朵患有重度NIHL（听力阈值高于55分贝）。某些行业中重度NIHL的比例较高，包括建筑业（38.6%）、造船/修船业（19.2%）和武器制造业（13.6%）。
这个NIHL监测系统是世界上最早建立的用于在工业卫生和职业病预防背景下监测和控制NIHL的监测系统之一。我们在某些行业中发现的高NIHL患病率将促使立即采取行动控制噪声危害，这反过来将为噪声暴露工人提供更好的保护。
