Noise and hand-arm vibration exposure in relation to the risk of hearing loss

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the possible association of combined exposure of noise and hand-arm vibration (HAV) and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Workers in a heavy engineering industry were part of a dynamic cohort. Of these workers, 189 had HAV exposure, and their age and hearing status were recorded in the same year and were, therefore, included in the analysis. Data on HAV duration and acceleration was gathered through questionnaires, observations, and measurements. All available audiograms were categorized into normal and hearing loss. The first exposure variable included the lifetime HAV exposure. The lifetime HAV exposure was multiplied by the acceleration of HAV for the second and third exposure variable. Logistic regression using the Generalized Estimation Equations method was chosen to analyze the data to account for the repeated measurements. The analysis was performed with both continuous exposure variables and with exposure variables grouped into exposure quartiles with hearing loss as an outcome and age as a covariate. With continuous exposure variables, the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for hearing loss was equal to or greater than one for all exposure variables. When the exposure variables were grouped into quartiles, the OR with a 95% CI was greater than one at the third and fourth quartile. The results show that working with vibrating machines in an environment with noise exposure increases the risk of hearing loss, supporting an association between exposure to noise and HAV, and the noise-induced hearing loss.

Raynaud′s phenomenon among men and women with noise-induced hearing loss in relation to vibration exposure

“…One could also speculate that the higher prevalence is due to simulations exposure to HAV. One earlier longitudinal study suggested an increased risk of hearing loss from HAV in a noisy environment, [9] but this conclusion is not supported by other longitudinal studies. [ 1,13] There were 29 cases of WF among the participants in this study.…”

“…Earlier longitudinal and cross-sectional studies have found an increased risk of hearing loss among workers with VWF compared to workers without VWF who have similar noise exposure and are of similar age. [1,[5][6][7][8][9] Therefore, WF from exposure to HAV might be a factor that increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.…”

“…Workers using vibrating hand-held tools who have VWF have an increased risk for noise-induced hearing loss compared with workers without VWF but of similar age and with similar noise exposures. [1,[5][6][7][8][9] Episodes of "WF" among those with WF or Raynaud's phenomenon are primarily triggered by cold or emotional stress. [10] Primary Raynaud's phenomenon has no related disease of external identified cause but could have a genetic component.…”

Risk of hearing loss among workers with vibration‐induced white fingers

“…A total of 476 audiograms measured between 1987 and 2008 were collected and classified according to Klockhoff et al [] for both the left and right ear [Pettersson et al, ]. The Klockhoff method [] was used because the audiometric measurements did not register hearing threshold levels (HL) with higher sensitivity than 10 dB HL.…”

“…Findings from a Finnish study [Pyykko et al, ; Starck et al, ] on the simultaneous exposure to HAV and noise and the risk of developing hearing loss did not find an increased risk of hearing loss from noise exposure when HAV was present. In contrast, a study on a Swedish cohort did find an increased risk of hearing loss with increased exposure to noise when HAV exposure was present [Pettersson et al, ]. Moreover, Pyykko et al [] conducted a longitudinal study on forestry workers with or without VWF who had similar noise exposure and compared their hearing.…”