RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Exposure to noise and ototoxic chemicals in the Australian workforce
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP oemed-2018-105471
DO 10.1136/oemed-2018-105471
A1 Kate Lewkowski
A1 Jane S Heyworth
A1 Ian W Li
A1 Warwick Williams
A1 Kahlia McCausland
A1 Corie Gray
A1 Elinor Ytterstad
A1 Deborah C Glass
A1 Adrian Fuente
A1 Si Si
A1 Ines Florath
A1 Lin Fritschi
YR 2019
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2019/01/25/oemed-2018-105471.abstract
AB Objective To determine the current prevalence of exposure to workplace noise and ototoxic chemicals, including co-exposures.Method A cross-sectional telephone survey of nearly 5000 Australian workers was conducted using the web-based application, OccIDEAS. Participants were asked about workplace tasks they performed and predefined algorithms automatically assessed worker’s likelihood of exposure to 10 known ototoxic chemicals as well as estimated their full shift noise exposure level (LAeq,8h) of their most recent working day. Results were extrapolated to represent the Australian working population using a raked weighting technique.Results In the Australian workforce, 19.5% of men and 2.8% of women exceeded the recommended full shift noise limit of 85 dBA during their last working day. Men were more likely to be exposed to noise if they were younger, had trade qualifications and did not live in a major city. Men were more likely exposed to workplace ototoxic chemicals (57.3%) than women (25.3%). Over 80% of workers who exceeded the full shift noise limit were also exposed to at least one ototoxic chemical in their workplace.Conclusion The results demonstrate that exposures to hazardous noise and ototoxic chemicals are widespread in Australian workplaces and co-exposure is common. Occupational exposure occurs predominantly for men and could explain some of the discrepancies in hearing loss prevalence between genders.