Hearing Loss Among World Trade Center Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cone, James E. ; Flamme, Gregory A. ; Friedman L ; Goldfarb DG ; Hall CB ; Prezant DJ ; Schwartz T ; Stein CR ; Vaeth BM ; Vossbrinck M ; Yip J ; Zeig-Owens R
• Description:
  Objective: To determine if World Trade Center (WTC) exposure is associated with hearing loss. Methods: Logistic regression to evaluate the immediate impact of WTC exposure and parametric survival analysis to assess longitudinal outcomes. Results: Those arriving on the morning of September 11, 2001 had elevated odds of low-frequency (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 1.47) and high-frequency (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.31) hearing loss at their first post-September 11, 2001 examination. Longitudinally, participants arriving before September 13, 2001 and spending more than or equal to 6 months at the WTC-site had greater risk of hearing loss in the low frequencies (risk ratio [RR]: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.60) and high frequencies (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.54). By 2016, 3194 (37%) had abnormal hearing sensitivity in either ear and 1751 (20%) in both ears. Conclusions: More heavily WTC-exposed workers were at increased risk of hearing loss, and group differences persisted for at least 15 years. Those with abnormal hearing sensitivity may benefit from interventions such as hearing aids and other rehabilitation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergency Responders Environmental Exposure Firefighters Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Hearing Conservation Emergency Medical Services Workers EMS Exposure Levels Fire Fighters Hearing Conservation Hearing Disorders Hearing Loss Hearing Protection Hearing Sensitivity Longitudinal Hearing Loss Occupational Exposures Rescue Workers Risk Factors Statistical Analysis Work Environment Workers World Trade Center WTC

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; Oregon ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057993
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2019 Dec; 61(2):996-1003
• Contact Point Address:
  Gregory A. Flamme, PhD, Stephenson and Stephenson Research and Consulting, 2264 Heather Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116
• Email:
  gflamme@sasrac.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  New York City Health/Mental Hygiene
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090430
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c30bdbc1906f7fd319a8b58f746606a3c891574e58fd499771e3ad39759ecc8501917b54d942f564ae3fe44442d79a871c7c8feabef92619023f4918b0a9d3d8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215187/cdc_215187_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 518.73 KB ]