Occupational Hearing Loss among Workers Exposed to Industrial Chemicals and Noise: A Study in a Paint Company and Among Automobile Sprayers in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Occupational hearing loss is a general term used to describe hearing loss that occurs in work environments. Noise and industrial chemicals such as organic solvents are two main toxic acoustic disturbance and substances that can have adverse effects on the auditory system and consequently induce hearing loss. This is corroborated by experimental studies on both animal and human which confirm ototoxic effects of industrial organic solvents and noise. Worldwide, several industries employ industrial chemicals in the manufacture of paints. In Ghana, there are several work environment which employ organic solvents in the manufacture and use of paints. Presently, published studies have not been done in Ghana on the ototoxicity of industrial chemicals and noise on hearing loss. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of occupational exposure to noise and industrial chemicals on hearing loss in a paint company and among automobile sprayers. This study is aimed at creating awareness of the effects of industrial chemicals and noise exposure on the peripheral auditory system of humans and find if significant occupational hearing loss exist among workers exposed to industrial chemicals and noise. Methodology: A cross-sectional study comprising case-control sample of 115 workers was selected purposively and conveniently from a paint company and five automobile garages who were either exposed to or not exposed to industrial chemical or and noise. The procedure adopted included noise survey, industrial chemical survey, case history, otoscopy, tympanometry and standard pure-tone audiometry. Results: The odds of hearing loss found in the group exposed to both noise and solvents was 1.096 (95% CI.0.340-3.532) higher than those in the noise only group (0.062 odds, 95% CI.0.016-1.108) as compared to the control group. Conclusion: This suggests that there is an association between occupational exposure to both industrial chemicals and noise with hearing loss. Keywords: ototoxicity, ototraumatic, chemical induced- hearing loss, noise induced- hearing loss