Hearing Loss and Noise Exposure Among Commercial Fishermen in the Gulf Coast

Details

• Personal Author:
  Curry WF III ; Levin, Jeffrey L. ; Nalbone JT ; Nonnenmann MW ; Shepherd S
• Description:
  Objective: Noise is a hazard in commercial fishing. This cross-sectional study associates occupational noise exposure with hearing loss in commercial fishermen. Methods: A comprehensive survey and audiometric testing were administered to 227 participants in the Gulf Coast. Sound-level measurements were obtained aboard a sample of fishing vessels. Criteria specific for hearing impairment (HI) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were applied to each audiogram. Results: The majority of these fishermen work shifts more than 16 hours for an extended duration. Hazardous noise levels were measured in the engine rooms ranging from 94.8 to 105.0 dBA. NIHL was significantly associated with years spent fishing, but not with age. HI was significantly associated with age, but not with years fishing. Conclusions: Commercial fishermen in the Gulf may be at a considerable risk of occupational NIHL and would benefit from hearing conservation programs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Hunting Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Age Factors Audiological Testing Cross Sectional Studies Fishing Industry Hearing Impairment Hearing Tests Noise Exposure Noise Induced Hearing Loss
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 7 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  306-313
• Volume:
  58
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053163
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2016 Mar; 58(3):306-313
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeffrey L. Levin, MD, MSPH, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX
• Email:
  jeffrey.levin@uthct.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Center at Tyler
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:109870e6cbbeaa8cf71cd4ee57a2680405fdddcae8219de9a372992a6ea163dc85f3b42cfcb13886f0996f5dd8e9f72b0db18615ec9f4f903e80e23e7dc69f8c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215975/cdc_215975_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 267.79 KB ]