Pedro Belou. Conferencia de 1936 sobre la hipoacusia laboral y el ruido urbano / Pedro Belou. Conference delivered in 1936 on occupational hearing loss and urban noise / Pedro Belou. Conferência de 1936 sobre perda auditiva ocupacional e ruído urbano

La problemática del ruido en las ciudades toma preponderancia internacional a finales del siglo XX, y pocas veces se comentan los esfuerzos pioneros realizados por especialistas que abogaron por un ambiente sonoro saludable. Éste es el caso de Pedro Belou, un médico otorrinolaringólogo nacido en Uruguay quien realizó toda su carrera profesional en Argentina, y que se destacó como científico de renombre mundial. A Belou podríamos ubicarlo como uno de los pioneros en el Río de la Plata en advertir acerca de las enfermedades que genera en las personas la exposición al ruido en las ciudades y en las industrias durante una conferencia que dio en Buenos Aires en 1936. En este artículo se rescatan los contenidos de su ponencia por la actualidad que tienen sus argumentos, y también para contribuir a su biografía, ya que esta conferencia no se menciona en ninguna de sus biografías.

Summary: City noise became a significant issue at the global level towards the end of the 20th Century, and discussions on pioneer efforts conducted by specialists who advocated for a healthy sound environment are rare. This is the case of Pedro Belou, a Uruguayan born otolaryngologist who developed his professional career in Argentina and was a renowned scientist worldwide. Belou could be regarded as one of the first physicians in the River Plate to warn us about diseases arising from noise exposure in cities and factories, during a conference he delivered in Buenos Aires in 1936. This article brings his presentation to you given the current relevance of his argument and to contribute to his biography, since this conference has not been mentioned in any of his previous biographies.

O problema do ruído nas cidades ganha preponderância internacional no final do século XX, porém raramente se discute o pioneirismo de especialistas que defendiam um ambiente sonoro saudável, como é o caso de Pedro Belou; otorrinolaringologista nascido no Uruguai, passou toda a sua carreira profissional na Argentina, destacando-se como um cientista de renome mundial. Poderíamos colocar Belou como um dos pioneiros no Río de la Plata em alertar, em uma conferência que deu em Buenos Aires em 1936, sobre as doenças que afetam as pessoas devido à exposição ao ruído nas cidades e nas indústrias. Neste artigo o conteúdo de sua apresentação é resgatado devido não somente pela atualidade de seus argumentos, como também para contribuir com sua biografia, já que esta conferência não é mencionada em nenhuma delas.

Applying kurtosis-adjusted cumulative noise exposure to assess occupational hearing loss among furniture manufacturing workers / 环境与职业医学

Background Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most prevalent occupational diseases in the world. With the development of industry, noise sources in the workplace have become increasingly complex. Objective To apply kurtosis-adjusted cumulative noise exposure (CNE) to assess the occupational hearing loss among furniture manufacturing workers, and to provide a basis for revising noise measurement methods and occupational exposure limits in China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted to select 694 manufacturing workers, including 542 furniture manufacturing workers exposed to non-Gaussian noise, and 152 textile manufacturing workers and paper manufacturing workers exposed to Gaussian noise. The job titles involving non-Gaussian noise were gunning and nailing, and woodworking, while those involving Gaussian noise were weaving, spinning, and pulping. High frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL) and noise exposure data were collected for each study subject. Noise energy metrics included eight-hour equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq,8 h) and CNE. Kurtosis was a noise temporal structure metric. Kurtosis-adjusted CNE was a combined indicator of noise energy and temporal structure. Results The age of the study subjects was (35.64±10.35) years, the exposure duration was (6.71±6.44) years, and the proportion of males was 75.50%. The LAeq,8 h was (89.43±6.01) dB(A). About 81.42% of the study subjects were exposed to noise levels above 85 dB(A), the CNE was (95.85±7.32) dB(A)·year, with a kurtosis of 99.34 ± 139.19, and the prevalence rate of HFNIHL was 35.59%. The mean kurtosis of the non-Gaussian noise group was higher than that of the Gaussian noise group (125.33±147.17 vs. 5.86±1.94, t=−21.04, P<0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that kurtosis was an influential factor of workers' HFNIHL after correcting for age, exposure duration, and LAeq,8 h (OR=1.49, P<0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the effects of age, exposure duration, LAeq,8 h, and kurtosis on noise-induced permanent threshold shift at frequencies of 3, 4, and 6 kHz of the poor hearing ear were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The results of chi-square trend analysis showed that when CNE ≥ 90 dB(A)·year, the HFNIHL prevalence rate elevated with increasing kurtosis (P<0.05). The mean HFNIHL prevalence rate was higher in the non-Gaussian noise group than in the Gaussian noise group (31.7% vs. 22.0%, P<0.05). After applying kurtosis-adjusted CNE, the linear equation between CNE and HFNIHL prevalence rate for the non-Gaussian noise group almost overlapped with that for the Gaussian noise group, and the mean difference in HFNIHL prevalence rate between the two groups decreased from 9.7% to 1.4% (P<0.05). Conclusion Noise kurtosis is an effective metric for NIHL evaluation. Kurtosis-adjusted CNE can effectively evaluate occupational hearing loss due to non-Gaussian noise exposure in furniture manufacturing workers, and is expected to be a new indicator of non-Gaussian noise measurement and assessment.

Facteurs prédictifs de la surdité professionnelle induite par le bruit chez les travailleurs des centrales électriques / Predictive factors of occupational noise-induced hearing loss in power plant workers

Analyser le lien entre la surdité professionnelle induite par le bruit et les caractéristiques socioprofessionnelles des travailleurs. Méthodes: C'était une étude prospective et analytique, par enquête avec évaluation audiométrique du 1er août au 30 septembre 2020, concernant 92 travailleurs des deux centrales de la Société Nationale d'Electricité de N'Djamena.Les tests de khi2et de corrélation de Pearson étaient utilisés à la recherche d'un lien entre la surdité due au bruit et les facteurs socioprofessionnels; une différence était dite statistiquement significative si p <0,05. Résultats: L'échantillon était constitué de 96% d'hommes. L'âge variait de 23 à 64 ans avec une moyenne de 38,7 ± 9,0 ans. Quarante-sept (51%) employés étaient formés sur la sécurité en milieu professionnel. Les agents de quarts représentaient 45% des cas (n=41). La durée d'exposition moyenne au bruit était de 10,8 ± 8,5 ans. Le port des équipements de protection individuelle était régulier dans 86% des cas (n =79). La surdité professionnelle a été observée dans 55% des cas (n=51). L'âge (p <10-3) et la durée d'exposition au bruit (p=0,002) étaient les facteurs associés significativement à la surdité. Conclusion: L'âge et l'ancienneté sont les facteurs prédictifs de la surdité chez les travailleurs exposés aux bruits des centrales électriques de N'Djamena.

Occupational Hearing Loss in Korea

In this article, current status of noise exposure in workplaces, trend of workers with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and prevalence of NIHL in workers by industry and job category in Korea were reviewed. In addition, trends of research on the audiological effects such as hearing loss from noise and occupational hearing loss from non-noise in Korea were addressed through reports in industrial audiology. Though noise exposure level has improved, noise still shows the highest rate of cases exceeding exposure limit among workplace hazards. NIHL is the most common occupational disease except work-related disease such as musculoskeletal disorders and cerebrovascular diseases, and NIHL prevalence is thought to be much higher than reported in official publications. Noise affecting hearing comes from various sources such as workplaces, military settings, areas with exposure to high noise, and specific noise sources. There is also occupational hearing loss by non-noise including chemicals such as organic solvents and heavy metals, barotrauma, and trauma due to welding spark. Noise affects daily life through audiological effects such as hearing loss and tinnitus, non-audiological physical effects (e.g., cardiovascular), and psychosocial and behavioral effects. Development of systematic and comprehensive hearing conservation programs for lowering the noise level in workplaces and preventing the NIHL, and preparation of technological, administrative system for its settlement at workplace are urgently needed.

Noise pollution, occupational failing hearing and occupational hearing loss among auto-engineering workers in Hue city

Background: Noise pollution has seriously negative effects on worker\u2019s health, especially their hearing ability. Occupational hearing loss is one of 21 insured occupational diseases. Occupational hearing loss is common in workers in transpostation, construction, energy heavy and light industry areas. Objectives: 1. To determine the degree of noise pollution in Thua Thien Hue Unity Auto Mechanical Joint Stock Company. 2. To evaluate occupational failing hearing and occupational hearing loss among workers in the company. 3. To promote preventive measures which imnimize occupational failing hearing and occupational hearing loss. Subjects and method:A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in 254 employees in Thua Thien Hue Unity Auto Mechanical \r\n', u'Joint Stock Company. Results and Conclusion: 72.7% the employees of Thua Thien Hue Unity Auto Mechanical \r\n', u'Joint Stock Company have exposed to environmental noise at the level higher than the permitted one. The rate of occupational failing hearing among these people is rather high (33.1%), and occupational hearing loss rate is 11.8%. There is a increased rate of occupational hearing loss according to the employee\u2019s age and seniority. Proposed preventive measures should be immediately conducted (P < 0.05).\r\n', u'