Evaluation of the Effects of Exposure to Organic Solvents and Hazardous Noise among U.S. Air Force Reserve Personnel
Open AccessEvaluation of the Effects of Exposures to Organic Solvents and Hazardous Noise among Air Force Reserve PersonnelBackground: Hearing loss affects many workers including those in the military and may be caused by noise, medications, and chemicals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk for hearing loss among U.S. Air Force Reserve personnel who have routine exposures to occupational hazardous noise with and without occupational exposures to toluene, styrene, xylene, benzene, or JP-8 jet fuel.Methods: Noise and solvent exposures were ascertained from workplace industrial hygiene records. Audiogram data were used to determine hearing loss. The study population included personnel who were enrolled in a workplace hearing conservation program from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2007. Risk factors associated with hearing loss were determined using logistic and linear regression. Stratified analysis was used to evaluate potential interaction between solvent and noise exposure.Results: The majority of the subjects were male (94.6%) and 35 years or older on the date of their first study audiogram (66%). Followed for an average of 3.2 years, 9.2% of the study subjects had hearing loss in at least one ear. Increasing age at first audiogram was significantly but weakly associated with hearing loss (OR=1.03 per year of age). Length of study follow-up time was associated with a substantial increase in the odds of hearing loss (OR=1.23) for every year increase in follow-up time. Age at first audiogram, follow-up time, and noise level were associated with hearing loss. Low and moderate solvent exposures were not associated with hearing loss in the population. Conclusion: Hearing loss was associated with age at first study audiogram, length of follow-up time, and exposure to noise. The results provide insight into the incremental affects of noise exposure and show that workers who are exposed to increasing levels of noise gradually lose hearing sensitivity over time. Study demonstrates the effectiveness of a solid hearing conservation program. Low level exposures to solvents below the occupational exposure limits were not associated with hearing loss; however, solvent exposures at higher concentrations could still be a risk factor.
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