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The Hearing Threshold of Employees Exposed to Noise Generated by the Low-Frequency Ultrasonic Welding Devices

Dudarewicz A., Zaborowski K., Rutkowska-Kaczmarek P., Zamojska-Daniszewska M., Śliwińska-Kowalska M., Zamysłowska-Szmytke E., Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2017

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Vol. 42, No. 2

199--205

EN

The aim of the study was to assess the hearing threshold levels (HTLs) in employees exposed to noise generated by low-frequency ultrasonic technological equipment in comparison with the HTLs of workers exposed to audible noise at the similar A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure level. The study includes measurements of ultrasonic and audible noise at workplaces and hearing tests, i.e. conventional pure-tone audiometry and extended high-frequency audiometry. The study group comprised 90 workers, aged 41.4 ± 10.0 years (mean±SD), exposed for 17.3 ± 9.8 years to noise generated by ultrasonic devices at mean daily noise exposure level (‹LEX,8h›) of 80.6 ± 2.9 dB. The reference group consists of 156 subjects, exposed to industrial noise (without ultrasonic components) at similar A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure level (‹LEX,8h› = 81.8 ± 2.7 dB), adjusted according to age (39.8 ± 7.7 years), gender and job seniority (14.0 ± 7.0 years). This group was selected from database collected in the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine. Audiometric hearing threshold levels in the frequency range of 0.5–6 kHz were similar in both groups, but in the frequency range of 8–12.5 kHz they were higher in the group of employees exposed to ultrasonic noise. The findings suggest that differences in the hearing threshold (at high frequencies) in analyzed groups may be due to differences in spectral composition of noise and show the need to continue the undertaken studies.

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Hearing Status in Young People Using Portable Audio Players

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Zaborowski K., Zamojska-Daniszewska M., Rutkowska-Kaczmarek P., Dudarewicz A., Śliwinska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2017

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Vol. 42, No. 1

113--120

EN

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing status in young adults using portable audio players (PAPs) in relation to their listening habits. The study included 58 subjects, aged 22.8±2.8 years, non-occupationally exposed to noise. Questionnaire inquiry aimed at collecting personal data, the information on PAPs usage habits, self-assessment of hearing status and identification of risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were performed in study subjects. Hearing tests included pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and transient-evoked optoacoustic emission (TEOAE). All subjects were PAPs users. Depending on listening habits they were divided into the subgroups of “frequent” users (>1 h/day) and “non-frequent” users (≤1 h/day). There were no significant differences between subgroups in prevalence of NIHL risk factors and self-assessment of hearing status. However, frequent users more often complained of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Majority (81.9 %) of participants had normal hearing. Nevertheless, 6.9 % of audiograms showed high-frequency notches typical for NIHL. Both, the PTA and TEOAE indicated worse hearing in non-frequent users compared to frequent users. No significant differences in prevalence of high-frequency notches between subgroups were noted. The outcomes do not support some previous studies results that the excessive exposure to music listened through PAPs might result in accelerating of development of NIHL loss in young adults.

3

Annoyance Related to Wind Turbine Noise

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Zaborowski K., Zamojska-Daniszewska M., Waszkowska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2014

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Vol. 39, No. 1

89--102

EN

A questionnaire inquiry on response to wind turbine noise was carried out on 361 subjects living in the vicinity of 8 wind farms. Current mental health status of respondents was assessed using Goldberg General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12. For areas where respondents lived, A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) were calculated as the sum of the contributions from the wind power plants in the specific area. Generally, 33.0% of respondents were annoyed outdoors by wind turbine noise at the calculated A-weighted SPL of 31–50 dB, while indoors the noise was annoying to 21.3% of them. The propor- tion of subjects evaluating the noise produced by operative wind turbines as annoying decreased with increasing the distance from the nearest wind turbine (27.6% at the distance of 400–800 m vs 14.3% at the distance above 800 m, p < 0.016). On the other hand, the higher was the noise level, the greater was the percentage of annoyed respondents (14.0% at SPL up to 40 dB vs 28.1% at SPL of 40–45 dB, p < 0.016). Besides noise and distance categories, subjective factors, such as general attitude to wind turbines, sensitivity to landscape littering and current mental health status, were found to have significant impact on the perceived annoyance. About 50% of variance in annoyance rating might be explained by the aforesaid subjective factors.

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Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Zamojska M., Dudarewicz A., Zaborowski K.

Archives of Acoustics

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2013

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Vol. 38, No. 2

223--234

EN

The overall purpose of this study was to assess hearing status in professional orchestral musicians. Standard pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were per- formed in 126 orchestral musicians. Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were identified in questionnaire inquiry. Data on sound pressure levels produced by various groups of instruments were also collected and analyzed. Measured hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were compared with the theoretical predictions calculated according to ISO 1999 (1990). Musicians were exposed to excessive sound at weekly noise exposure levels of for 81-100 dB (mean: 86.6±4.0 dB) for 5-48 years (mean: 24.0±10.7 years). Most of them (95%) had hearing corresponds to grade 0 of hearing impairment (mean hearing threshold level at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz lower than 25 dB). However, high frequency notched audiograms typical for noise-induced hearing loss were found in 35% of cases. Simultaneously, about 35% of audiograms showed typical for NIHL high frequency notches (mainly occurring at 6000 Hz). When analyzing the impact of age, gender and noise exposure on hearing test results both PTA and TEOAE consistently showed better hearing in females vs. males, younger vs. older musicians. But higher exposure to orchestral noise was not associated with poorer hearing tests results. The musician’s audiometric hearing threshold levels were poorer than equivalent non-noise-exposed population and better (at 3000 and 4000 Hz) than expected for noise-exposed population according to ISO 1999 (1990). Thus, music impairs hearing of orchestral musicians, but less than expected from noise exposure.

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Self-Assessment of Hearing Status and Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Workers in a Rolling Stock Plant

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Zamojska M., Śliwinska-Kowalska M.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2012

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Vol. 18, No. 2

279--296

EN

Noise measurements and questionnaire inquiries were carried out for 124 workers of a rolling stock plant to develop a hearing conservation program. On the basis of that data, the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was evaluated. Additionally, the workers’ hearing ability was assessed with the (modified) Amsterdam inventory for auditory disability and handicap, (m)AIADH. The workers had been exposed to noise at A-weighted daily noise exposure levels of 74–110 dB for 1-40 years. Almost one third of the workers complained of hearing impairment and the (m)AIADH results showed some hearing difficulties in over half of them. The estimated risk of hearing loss over 25 dB in the frequency range of 3-6 kHz was 41–50% when the standard method of predicting NIHL specified in Standard No. ISO 1999:1990 was used. This risk increased to 50-67% when noise impulsiveness, coexposure to organic solvents, elevated blood pressure and smoking were included in calculations.

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Evaluation of Sound Exposure and Risk of Hearing Impairment in Orchestral Musicians

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Zamojska M., Śliwinska-Kowalska M.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2011

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Vol. 17, No. 3

255--269

EN

This study aimed to assess exposure to sound and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in orchestral musicians. Sound pressure level was measured in 1 opera and 3 symphony orchestras; questionnaires were filled in. On the basis of that data, the risk of NIHL was assessed according to Standard No. ISO 1999:1990. Classical orchestral musicians are usually exposed to sound at equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure levels of 81−90 dB (10th−90th percentiles), for 20−45 h (10th−90th percentiles) per week. Occupational exposure to such sound levels over 40 years of employment might cause hearing loss (expressed as a mean hearing threshold level at 2, 3, 4 kHz exceeding 35 dB) of up to 26%. Playing the horn, trumpet, tuba and percussion carries the highest risk (over 20%).

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The Influence of Selected Risk Factors on the Hearing Threshold Level of Noise Exposed Employees

Dudarewicz A., Toppila E., Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2010

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Vol. 35, No. 3

371-382

EN

The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined effect of noise exposure and additional risk factors on permanent hearing threshold shift. Three additional risk factors were: exposure to organic solvents, smoking and elevated blood pressure. The data on exposure and health status of employees were collected in 24 factories. The study group comprised of 3741 noise male exposed workers of: mean age 39§8 years, mean tenure 16§7 years and LEX;8h = 86 § 5 dB. For each subject, hearing level was measured with pure tone audiometry, blood pressure and noise exposure were assessed from the records of local occupational health care and obligatory noise measurements performed by employers. Smoking and solvent exposure were assessed with questionnaire. The study group was divided into subgroups with respect to the considered risk factors. In the analysis, the distribution of hearing level of each subgroup was compared to the predicted one which the standard calculation method described in ISO 1999:1990. For each of the considered risk factors, the difference between measured and calculated hearing level distribution was used to establish, by the least square method, a noise dose related correction square function for the standard method. The considered risk factors: solvent exposure, smoking and elevated blood pressure combined with noise exposure, may increase degree of hearing loss.

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Hearing Ability in Orchestral Musicians

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Zamojska M., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2010

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Vol. 35, No. 4

579-594

EN

Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were determined in 57 classical orchestral musicians along with a questionnaire inquiry using a modified Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap ((m)AIADH). Data on musicians’ working experience and sound pressure levels produced by various groups of instruments were also collected. Measured hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were compared with the theoretical predictions calculated according to ISO 1999:1990. High frequency notched audiograms typical for noise-induced hearing loss were found in 28% of the subjects. PTA and TEOAE consistently showed a tendency toward better hearing in females vs. males, younger vs. older subjects, and lower- vs. higher-exposed to orchestral noise subjects. Audiometric HTLs were better than theoretical predictions in the frequency range of 2000–4000 Hz. The (m)AIADH scores indicated some hearing difficulties in relation to intelligibility in noisy environment in 26% of the players. Our results indicated a need to implement a hearing conservation program for this professional group.

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Theoretical Predictions and Actual Hearing Threshold Levels in Workers Exposed to Ultrasonic Noise of Impulsive Character—A Pilot Study

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2007

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Vol. 13, No. 4

409–-418

EN

Results of standard pure-tone audiom etry (PTA) were collected from 25 workers, mainly females, aged 23–58 years, exposed for 2–13 years to ultrasonic noise emitted by ultrasonic welders. Hearing tests were completed by evaluation of exposure to ultrasonic noise. The subjects’ actual audiometric hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were compared with theoretical predictions calculated according to ISO 1999:1990. In 60% of cases sound pressure levels in the 10–40 kHz 1/3-octave bands at workstands exceeded Polish exposure limits for ultrasonic noise. Our comparison of predicted and measured HTLs suggests that the ISO 1999:1990 method, intended for audible noise, might also make it possible to predict reliably permanent hearing loss (in the 2 000–6 000 Hz frequency range) after exposure to ultrasonic noise. No significant progress of hearing impairment (assessed using PTA) in the operators of ultrasonic welders was noted. Nevertheless, further studies on the hearing status of workers exposed to ultrasonic noise are needed.

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Proposals of exposure criteria for the assessment of low frequency noise at workplaces in industrial control rooms and office-like areas

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2007

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Vol. 32, No. 2

303-312

EN

The aim of the study was to recommend methods for assessing low frequency noise (LFN) in the occupational environment to prevent annoyance and its effects on work performance. Three different evaluating methods and corresponding admissible values were proposed: (i) method I - frequency analysis in 1/3-octave bands 10-250 Hz, (ii) method II - consisting in 1/3-octave band measurements and determination of low frequency equivalent-continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) in the frequency range 10-250 Hz, and (iii) method III - based on equivalent-continuous A-weighted SPL corrected due to the presence of low frequencies and tonal character of LFN. Separate noise limits were recommended for workplaces in the control rooms and office-like areas. The proposed criteria were verified in the field study on subjective noise annoyance rating. The subjects, 35 male workers, employed in the industrial control rooms, aged 40.1±7.2 years, exposed to LFN at A-weighted SPL of 48-61 dB, were asked to rate noise annoyance at their workplace using a 100-score graphical rating scale. Noise conditions in the control rooms were evaluated according to proposed assessment criteria. The subjective ratings of LFNs were compared to objective results from various assessing methods. The relations between annoyance and excesses of proposed limits were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Linear relationships between the subjective ratings and results from all proposed exposure criteria were observed (0.550≤r≤0.673, p<0.001). However, the highest correlation coefficient was found for method II (r=0.673).

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An optimal method of assessment the individual susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss

Dudarewicz A., Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2007

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Vol. 32, No. 2

241-250

EN

The aim of the investigation was to compare different methods of subject classification regarding susceptibility to noise induced hearing loss in group of 949 workers of power plant. In the first two methods, simple and accurate the classification was performed according international reference standard ISO 1999:1990. In the tree other methods the entire group of workers was divided into subgroups to obtain similar distribution of age, time of employment and level of noise exposure in the susceptible and resistant group. In the first two classifications the susceptible group was significantly younger then resistant group, had shorter time of employment and lower level of noise exposure. This findings are in line with the definition of increased vulnerability to noise inducted hearing loss. Additionally, an excellent separation between hearing thresholds (HTs) of the susceptible and the resistant group was achieved. All three other methods resulted in worse separation of HTs between susceptible and resistant group of subjects. Subjects pre-selection deteriorates the reliability of workers' dichotomization into noise-susceptible and noise resistant groups.

12

Influence of low frequency noise on cognitive performance tasks

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Waszkowska M., Szymczak W., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2004

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Vol. 29, no. 2

191-203

EN

To study the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) on cognitive performance tasks, 96 subjects, categorised in terms of sensitivity to LFN, worked with four standardised psychological tests during exposure to LFN or broadband noise without dominant low frequency content (reference noise) at a level of 50 dB(A). It was found that the test results were influenced by exposure and/or noise sensitivity. Regardless of sensitivity to noise, poorer results in the LFN (compared to reference noise conditions) were noted in the Comparing of Names Test (a tendency to more erroneous responses). High-sensitive subjects achieved poorer results than others during exposure to LFN in the Stroop Colour-Word Test (a significant interaction between noise and noise sensitivity in case of reading interference) and in the Continuous Attention Test (a tendency to more erroneous reactions). These findings suggest that LFN at moderate levels could adversely influence cognitive performance tasks and subjects high-sensitive to LFN may be at highest risk.

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Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M., Dudarewicz A., Waszkowska M., Szymczak W., Kameduła M., Śliwińska-Kowalska M.

Archives of Acoustics

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2004

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Vol. 29, no. 2

205-218

EN

To study the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) on mental performance and subjective well-being, 192 male subjects, categorised in terms of sensitivity to noise in general, and to LFN in particular, worked with four standardised psychological tests. Three different acoustic conditions were used in the experiment: the background laboratory noise, LFN, and the broadband noise without dominant low frequency content (reference noise) at a level of 50 dB(A). The influence of exposure and/or noise sensitivity on the tests' results or their interaction were found in three of the four performed tests. Poorer results in the LFN (compared to other noise conditions) were observed in person classified as high-sensitive to noise in general and low-sensitive to LFN in the Signal Detection Test (more erroneous responses). The annoyance of LFN and reference noise was rated higher than that of the background noise. Subjects high-sensitive to noise in general reported the highest annoyance due to LFN. In conclusion, LFN at moderate level could be perceived as annoying and adversely affecting attention and visual perception, particularly in subjects high-sensitive to noise.