Traffic Noise Annoyance in the Population of North Mexico: Case Study on the Daytime Period in the City of Matamoros.

Aim: The presence of noise in urban environments is rarely considered a factor that causes damage to the environment. The primary generating source is transportation means, with vehicles being the ones that affect cities the most. Traffic noise has a particular influence on the quality of life of those who are exposed to it and can cause health alterations ranging from annoyance to cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to describe the relationship between the traffic noise level and the perceived annoyance in the inhabitants of a city on the Northern Border of Mexico. The work carried out in a city represents the vulnerability characteristics: economic, social, and migratory of its sizable portion of the inhabitants. Due to that, it is impossible to identify precisely the number of residents as the number of vehicles in circulation. Methods: The streets and avenues with an annual average daily traffic of more than 1,000 vehicles were considered for the measurement of traffic noise. The equipment used was a vehicle gauge with non-invasive speed radar; type I integrating sound level meters, with their respective gauges and tripods. A questionnaire was applied to people living within 250 m of the streets and avenues in which the noise was measured. Results: The noise measurement found a parameter of LAeq estimated for 12 h during the day, exceeding 70 dBA. The data received from the questionnaire were statistically tested by using Pearson's correlation tests. A total number of 2,350 people were participated, of whom 1,378 were women (58.6%) and 972 were men (41.4%). The age of participants is ranged from 18 to 75 years. The overall perception of traffic noise annoyance identified that 1,131 participants (48.1%) responded "Yes" as they considered the noise annoying. Participants who responded "No" as well as those who responded "Do not know" resulted in a total of 1,219 people (51.9%). Conclusion: The results show that the population is desensitized to traffic noise and does not perceive it as an annoyance. The flow of vehicles and the type of vehicles are the significant factors for the propagation and increase in the traffic noise levels. Women present a considerable appreciation of traffic noise perception instead of younger people who demonstrate a higher tolerance to high-level exposure. This reflects the lack of information of the population around the noise problem and its effects.

Road risk behaviors: Pedestrian experiences.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify pedestrian risk behaviors that result in traffic accidents and characterization of the accidents experienced by participants in this study to provide information for the generation of integral preventive strategies. Methods: The study was correlational, descriptive, and transversal and followed a quantitative approach divided into 2 stages. In the first stage, an observational study was performed to identify the manifested risk behaviors of pedestrians, which served as a basis for the construction and design of a questionnaire. In the second stage, the questionnaire was applied to a group of 1,536 participants. Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to establish associations between gender and age with respect to risk behaviors. Results: The 3 behaviors that participants reported performing always or very often include using electronic gadgets (except mobile phones), not using a pedestrian crosswalk, and using a mobile phone. In addition, 18.5% were involved in at least one road accident as a pedestrian in the last 5 years. Of the total number of registered accidents, 21% resulted in pedestrian injuries, 48.3% of which were serious. These were due to external causes not related to human factors or unidentified (58.5%) and behavior factors as a whole (41.4%, 31.5% of which were caused by pedestrians). Pearson's correlation coefficient showed evidence of a correlation between age and risk behaviors. Conclusions: All subjects in this study performed several risky actions as pedestrians, at least occasionally, and at least one fifth had been involved in a road accident as a pedestrian. It is known that the surroundings can positively or negatively influence individuals' behaviors; therefore, once prevention measures are identified, it is possible to influence risk behaviors. Therefore, road safety education and the physical environment must be considered together, and efforts focused on optimum infrastructure also need to consider road safety education.

Disminución auditiva de trabajadores expuestos a ruido en una empresa metalmecánica / Hearing loss in workers exposed to noise at a metal-mechanic company

El propósito del estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de la disminución auditiva entre 164 trabajadores expuestos a ruido en una empresa metalmecánica. Se analizaron variables relacionadas con la edad, antigüedad en el puesto, así como también el uso de equipo de protección personal y el haber sufrido golpes en la cabeza. En el estudio seincluyeron los resultados del estudio de audiometría practicado a los trabajadores, así también, el monitoreo de los niveles de ruido en lasáreas de trabajo. El 53 por ciento de los trabajadores manifestó una audiciónnormal, mientras que la disminución auditiva tuvo lugar en un 47 por ciento de los trabajadores, de los cuales un 25.01 por ciento presentó disminución auditiva leve. Las zonas de trabajo presentaron niveles de ruido en un rango de 83 a 102 decibeles. El contar con más edad y mayor antigüedad noinfluyó en la disminución de la capacidad auditiva. Se sugiere ampliar el estudio con más antecedentes personales y datos extra-laborales que permitan conocer mejor a la población.

The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of hearingloss in 164 workers exposed to noise in a metal-mechanic company. Variables analyzed were related to age, seniority in the job, as well as the use of personal protective equipment and head blows experienced. The study includes the results of an audiometric test that was applied to the workers, and also includes the monitoring of noise levels at the work areas. A 53 percent of workers had normal audition, while a 47 percent had hearing loss, a 25.01 percent of which had a slight hearing loss. Work areas had noise levels in the range of 83–102 decibels. Being older did not have an influence on hearing loss. It is suggested to extend the studywith more personal background and labor information that will allow a better understanding of the population.

Conocimiento y actitud en prevención de trabajadores lesionados de una empresa metalmecánica en México / Knowledge and attitudes towards prevention among occupationally injured workers at a Mexican metal-mechanic company

Se investigan a 51 trabajadores que sufrieron algún tipo de accidentes de trabajo durante el año de 2007, en una empresa metalmecánica, no importando la región anatómica de la lesión con la finalidad de determinar el nivel de conocimiento y actitud en prevención de riesgos laborales que existe entre ellos. Tal información servirá para mejorar la administración de la seguridad en la empresa. La investigación es de tipo no experimental, descriptiva y transversal. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó, un cuestionario integrado por 30 ítems, divididos en tres apartados: datos demográficos y las variables: conocimiento y actitud en prevención de riesgos laborales. La validez del instrumento obtuvo un valor de alfa de Cronbach del 0,74. Con respecto a las variables de estudio, los resultados obtenidos nos indican que, los trabajadores presentan un nivel bajo de conocimiento en prevención de riesgos laborales. En relación con la variable actitud, estos se ubicaron en un nivel bajo también. Por lo que se concluye que, el conocimiento en prevención de riesgos laborales y la actitud de los trabajadores, están directamente relacionados

51 workers that suffered some type of work accident were investigated during 2007, at a metal-mechanic company; the lesion’s anatomic region is not an issue, in order to determine the knowledge and attitude level on occupational risks prevention. Such information will enhance safety management at the company. The investigation is descriptive, transverse and non-experimental. For data collection was used a questionnaire of 30 multiple-choice, divided into three sections: demographics data, and the variables knowledge and attitude on occupational risk prevention. The validity of the instrument got a Cronbach´s alpha of 0,74. With respect to the variables, the results indicate that workers have a low level in prevention knowledge occupational risk. Regarding the attitude variable, these were located at a low level also. As it is concluded that knowledge on occupational risk prevention and the attitude of workers are directly related