Kamil Zaborowski

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

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Adam Dudarewicz

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

MŚ

Mariola Śliwińska‐Kowalska

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Anna Wolniakowska

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Małgorzata Waszkowska

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Paulina Rutkowska-Kaczmarek

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Dario Brdarić

Institute of Public Health Osijek-Baranja County

Senka Samardžić

Institute of Public Health Osijek-Baranja County

Ewa Zamysłowska-Szmytke

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Cooperative Institutions

Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine

Zakłady Magnezytowe (Poland)

Oticon Medical (Denmark)

University of Łódź

Institute of Public Health Osijek-Baranja County

University of Osijek

University of Manchester

Manchester Academic Health Science Centre

Durham University

Institute of Labour and Social Studies

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Exposure to excessive sounds and hearing status in academic classical music students

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health (2017)

Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Adam Dudarewicz Kamil Zaborowski

The aim of this study was to assess hearing of music students in relation to their exposure to excessive sounds.Standard pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was performed in 168 music students, aged 22.5±2.5 years. The control group included 67 subjects, non-music students and non-musicians, aged 22.8±3.3 years. Data on the study subjects' musical experience, instruments in use, time of weekly practice and additional risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were identified by means of a questionnaire survey. Sound pressure levels produced by various groups of instruments during solo and group playing were also measured and analyzed. The music students' audiometric hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were compared with the theoretical predictions calculated according to the International Organization for Standardization standard ISO 1999:2013.It was estimated that the music students were exposed for 27.1±14.3 h/week to sounds at the A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure level of 89.9±6.0 dB. There were no significant differences in HTLs between the music students and the control group in the frequency range of 4000-8000 Hz. Furthermore, in each group HTLs in the frequency range 1000-8000 Hz did not exceed 20 dB HL in 83% of the examined ears. Nevertheless, high frequency notched audiograms typical of the noise-induced hearing loss were found in 13.4% and 9% of the musicians and non-musicians, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of notching in the music students increased significantly along with higher sound pressure levels (OR = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.014-1.13, p < 0.05). The students' HTLs were worse (higher) than those of a highly screened non-noise-exposed population. Moreover, their hearing loss was less severe than that expected from sound exposure for frequencies of 3000 Hz and 4000 Hz, and it was more severe in the case of frequency of 6000 Hz.The results confirm the need for further studies and development of a hearing conservation program for music students. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(1):55-75.

Audiogram

Audiometer

Pure tone audiometry

Musical instrument

Sound exposure

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00709

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Citations (13)

Assessment of temporary hearing changes related to work as a bartender

Medycyna Pracy (2019)

Anna Wolniakowska Kamil Zaborowski Adam Dudarewicz Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska Mariola Śliwińska‐Kowalska

Noise in entertainment industry often reaches high sound pressure levels. Nevertheless, the risk of hearing loss in this sector is insufficiently recognized. The aim of this study was the assessment of the relationship between noise exposure and temporary threshold shifts (TTS) for people working as bartenders at a variety of entertainment venues.The study comprised a total of 18 bartenders (mean age was 25±7 years old) employed at a music club (N = 8), pub (N = 5) and discotheque (N = 5). Personal dosimeters were used for determining noise levels and frequency characteristics. Hearing was evaluated by pre- (before work) and post-exposure (up to 15 min after the end of work) pure tone audiometry. Hearing tests were carried out for bartenders during 2 or 3 sessions while working on weekends.The mean personal noise exposure level normalized to a nominal 8-hour working day was 95 dBA, above 4 times higher than the accepted legal limit. The TTS values (10 dB HL or more) were significant at 4 kHz for both ears for 77% of bartenders.People working as bartenders represent a professional group with an increased risk of hearing loss. Raising awareness of this fact and implementing hearing protection programs in this group of workers is urgently needed, in line with the European Commission Directive (EU Directive 2003/10/EC). Med Pr. 2019;70(1):17-25.W przemyśle rozrywkowym hałas często osiąga wysokie poziomy ciśnienia akustycznego, jednak ryzyko uszkodzenia słuchu w tym sektorze nie zostało jeszcze dokładnie ocenione. Celem pracy była ocena związku między ekspozycją na wysoki poziom dźwięku a czasowym przesunięciem progu słuchu u osób pracujących na stanowisku barmana w lokalach rozrywkowych.Badaniem objęto 18 barmanów (średni wiek: 25±7 lat) zatrudnionych w klubie muzycznym (N = 8), pubie (N = 5) i dyskotece (N = 5). Poziomy dźwięków oraz charakterystyka częstotliwościowa hałasu były określane za pomocą dozymetrii indywidualnej. Progi słuchu oceniano za pomocą audiometrii tonalnej przeprowadzanej przed rozpoczęciem dnia pracy oraz bezpośrednio (do 15 min) po jego zakończeniu. Badania słuchu przeprowadzono u barmanów w czasie 2 lub 3 sesji badawczych podczas pracy w weekendy. Uzyskano 92 audiogramy przed- i poekspozycyjne.Uśrednione równoważne poziomy dźwięku odniesione do 8-godzinnego dnia pracy w ocenianych 3 lokalach muzycznych wynosiły 95 dBA, przekraczając ponad czterokrotnie dopuszczalne prawnie normy. U 77% badanych osób wykazano przynajmniej w 1 sesji pomiarowej czasowe przesunięcia progów słuchu ≥ 10 dB HL dla częstotliwości 4 kHz.Osoby pracujące na stanowisku barmana stanowią grupę zawodową o podwyższonym ryzyku utraty słuchu. Niezbędne jest zwiększanie świadomości tego faktu oraz wdrażanie u tych pracowników programów ochrony słuchu, zgodnie z dyrektywą Komisji Europejskiej (EU 2003/10/WE). Med. Pr. 2019;70(1):17–25.

Hearing protection

Noise-induced hearing loss

Directive

10.13075/mp.5893.00734

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Citations (3)

Evaluation of noise exposure and risk of hearing impairment in judicial transcribers

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2019)

Kamil Zaborowski Adam Dudarewicz Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska

The aim of this study was to evaluate noise exposure and risk of hearing impairment in judicial transcribers. Noise measurements and questionnaire inquiry were carried out in a group of 15 employees, aged 38.0 ± 0.8 years. Sound pressure levels emitted by headphones were measured using the MIRE technique according to ISO 11904-1:2008. The risk of noise-induced hearing loss was estimated according to the guidelines of ISO 1999:2013.The diffuse-field-related A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure levels measured under headphones reached values from 62 to 80.7 dB. The study subjects worked as transcribers on average for 4–7 h a day. Consequently, the individual daily noise exposure levels in the examined group ranged from 61.2 to 79.9 dB. Such exposures for 10 years of occupational work pose a risk of hearing impairment (the mean hearing threshold at frequencies of 2, 3, and 4 kHz > 20 dB) reaching 3.5%. Almost three fourth of the employees reported their hearing deterioration (73.3%), whereas nearly a half of them experienced temporary hearing symptoms due to usage of headphones (43.3%).It is recommended that the transcribers should be covered by the hearing protection programme.

Headphones

Sound exposure

Hearing protection

10.1121/1.5136976

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Hearing status of people occupationally exposed to ultrasonic noise

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health (2022)

Adam Dudarewicz Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Kamil Zaborowski Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska

The aim of the study was to evaluate the hearing status of operators of low-frequency ultrasonic devices compared to employees exposed to audible noise at a similar A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) but without ultrasonic components.Standard pure-tone audiometry, extended high-frequency audiometry (EHFA), transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), as well as questionnaire surveys were conducted among 148 subjects, aged 43.1±10.8 years, working as ultrasonic device operators for 18.7±10.6 years. Their exposure to noise within the ultrasonic and audible frequency range was also evaluated. The control group comprised 168 workers, adjusted according to gender, age (±2 years), tenure (±2 years), and the 8-hour daily noise exposure level (LEX,8h) of ±2 dB.The ultrasonic device operators and the control group were exposed to audible noise at LEX,8h of 80.8±3.9 dB and 79.1±3.4, respectively. The Polish maximum admissible intensity (MAI) values for audible noise were exceeded in 16.8% of the ultrasonic device operators, while 91.2% of them were exposed to ultrasonic noise at SPL>MAI values. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the hearing threshold levels (HTLs) up to 3 kHz, while the ultrasonic device operators exhibited significantly higher (worse) HTLs, as compared to the control group, in the range of 4-14 kHz. The results of the DPOAE and TEOAE testing also indicated worse hearing among the ultrasonic device operators. However, the differences between the groups were more pronounced in the case of EHFA and DPOAEs.The outcomes of all hearing tests consistently indicated worse hearing among the ultrasonic device operators as compared to the control group. Both EHFA and DPOAE seem to be useful tools for recognizing early signs of hearing loss among ultrasonic device operators. nt J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):309-25.

Pure tone audiometry

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01816

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Citations (2)

Response to Noise Emitted by Wind Farms in People Living in Nearby Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2018)

Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska Kamil Zaborowski Adam Dudarewicz Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Małgorzata Waszkowska

The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception and annoyance of noise from wind turbines in populated areas of Poland. A questionnaire inquiry was carried out among 517 subjects, aged 18–88, living within 204–1726 m from the nearest wind turbine. 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. It has been shown that the wind turbine noise at the calculated A-weighted SPL of 33–50 dB was perceived as annoying or highly annoying by 46% and 28% of respondents, respectively. Moreover, 34% and 18% of them said that they were annoyed or highly annoyed indoors, respectively. The perception of high annoyance was associated with the A-weighted sound pressure level or the distance from the nearest wind turbine, general attitude to wind farms, noise sensitivity and terrain shape (annoyance outdoors) or road-traffic intensity (annoyance indoors). About 48–66% of variance in noise annoyance rating might be explained by the aforesaid factors. It was estimated that at the distance of 1000 m the wind turbine noise might be perceived as highly annoying outdoors by 43% and 2% of people with negative and positive attitude towards wind turbines, respectively. There was no significant association between noise level (or distance) and various health and well-being aspects. However, all variables measuring health and well-being aspects, including stress symptoms, were positively associated with annoyance related to wind turbine noise.

Annoyance

10.3390/ijerph15081575

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Citations (21)

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

Archives of Acoustics (2017)

Adam Dudarewicz Kamil Zaborowski Paulina Rutkowska-Kaczmarek Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Mariola Śliwińska‐Kowalska

Abstract 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 (‹L EX,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 (‹L EX,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.

Pure tone audiometry

Seniority

10.1515/aoa-2017-0022

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Citations (5)

Noise exposure and hearing status among call center operators.

PubMed (2018)

Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska Adam Dudarewicz Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Kamil Zaborowski Paulina Rutkowska-Kaczmarek

The overall objective of the study was to assess noise exposure and audiometric hearing threshold levels (HTLs) in call center operators.Standard pure-tone audiometry and extended high-frequency audiometry were performed in 78 participants, aged 19 to 44 years (mean ± standard deviation: 28.1 ± 6.3 years), employed up to 12 years (2.7 ± 2.9 years) at one call center. All participants were also inquired about their communication headset usage habits, hearing-related symptoms, and risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Noise exposure under headsets was evaluated using the microphone in a real ear technique as specified by ISO 11904-1:2002. The background noise prevailing in offices was also measured according to ISO 9612:2009.A personal daily noise exposure level calculated by combining headset and nonheadset work activities ranged from 68 to 79 dBA (74.7 ± 2.5 dBA). Majority (92.3%) of study participants had normal hearing in both ears (mean HTL in the frequency range of 0.25-8 kHz ≤20 dB HL). However, their HTLs in the frequency range of 0.25 to 8 kHz were worse than the expected median values for equivalent highly screened otologically normal population, whereas above 8 kHz were comparable (9-11.2 kHz) or better (12.5 kHz). High-frequency hearing loss (mean HTLs at 3, 4, and 6 kHz >20 dB HL) and speech-frequency hearing loss (mean HTLs at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz >20 dB HL) were noted in 8.3% and 6.4% of ears, respectively. High-frequency notches were found in 15.4% of analyzed audiograms. Moreover, some of call center operators reported hearing-related symptoms.Further studies are needed before firm conclusions concerning the risk of NIHL in this professional group can be drawn.

Headset

Pure tone audiometry

Noise-induced hearing loss

Center frequency

10.4103/nah.nah_11_18

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Citations (10)

Noise induced hearing loss: Research in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe and newly independent states

Noise and Health (2013)

Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska Adam Dudarewicz Kamil Zaborowski Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska Mariola Śliwińska‐Kowalska

The aim of this review was to summarize the studies on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) which were carried out in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, South-East Europe, and former Soviet Union countries or Newly Independent States in the period from 1970 to 2012. The papers were identified by literature search of all accessible medical and other databases (Scopus, PubMed, Medline, etc.) using the terms noise; hearing loss, NIHL as key words and country denomination (in alphabetical order: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, former Yugoslavia, Ukraine). This review comprises both papers published in peer-reviewed international journals and articles from local sources. The main papers' topics included the assessment of the noise hazards in occupational, and very seldom in communal environment, and the prevalence of hearing impairment in employees. Simultaneously, attempts were undertaken to establish the relationship between the degree of hearing impairment and noise exposure. The effect of combined exposures to noise and vibration and/or otoxic chemicals was assessed as well. The influence of environmental, individual, and genetic risk factors on NIHL development was intensively examined. In addition, studies concerning the role of otoacoustic emissions for NIHL monitoring and clinical examinations were conducted. Some animal researches, including molecular genetics, had been also performed. The majority of papers concerned occupational exposures, whereas only a few were dedicated to community noise.

Montenegro

Noise-induced hearing loss

10.4103/1463-1741.107157

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Citations (23)

WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Permanent Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2017)

Mariola Śliwińska‐Kowalska Kamil Zaborowski

Background: Hearing loss is defined as worsening of hearing acuity and is usually expressed as an increase in the hearing threshold. Tinnitus, defined as "ringing in the ear", is a common and often disturbing accompaniment of hearing loss. Hearing loss and environmental exposures to noise are increasingly recognized health problems. Objectives: The objective was to assess whether the exposure-response relationship can be established between exposures to non-occupational noise and permanent hearing outcomes such as permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Methods: Information sources: Computer searches of all accessible medical and other databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were performed and complemented with manual searches. The search was not limited to a particular time span, except for the effects of personal listening devices (PLDs). The latter was limited to the years 2008-June 2015, since previous knowledge was summarized by SCENIHR descriptive systematic review published in 2008. Study eligibility criteria: The inclusion criteria were as follows: the exposure to noise was measured in sound pressure levels (SPLs) and expressed in individual equivalent decibel values (LEX,8h), the studies included both exposed and reference groups, the outcome was a permanent health effect, i.e., permanent hearing loss assessed with pure-tone audiometry and/or permanent tinnitus assessed with a questionnaire. The eligibility criteria were evaluated by two independent reviewers. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: The risk of bias was assessed for all of the papers using a template for assessment of quality and the risk of bias. The GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation) approach was used to assess the overall quality of evidence. Meta-analysis was not possible due to methodological heterogeneity of included studies and the inadequacy of data. Results: Out of 220 references identified, five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All of them were related to the use of PLDs and comprised in total of 1551 teenagers and young adults. Three studies used hearing loss as the outcome and three tinnitus. There was a positive correlation between noise level and hearing loss either at standard or extended high frequencies in all three of the studies on hearing loss. In one study, there was also a positive correlation between the duration of PLD use and hearing loss. There was no association between prolonged listening to loud music through PLDs and tinnitus or the results were contradictory. All of the evidence was of low quality. Limitations: The studies are cross-sectional. No study provides odds ratios of hearing loss by the level of exposure to noise. Conclusions: While using very strict inclusion criteria, there is low quality GRADE evidence that prolonged listening to loud music through PLDs increases the risk of hearing loss and results in worsening standard frequency audiometric thresholds. However, specific threshold analyses focused on stratifying risk according to clearly defined levels of exposure are missing. Future studies are needed to provide actionable guidance for PLDs users. No studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria related to other isolated or combined exposures to environmental noise were identified.

Noise-induced hearing loss

Environmental Noise

Industrial noise

10.3390/ijerph14101139

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Citations (160)

Are fitness instructors at risk of hearing impairment?

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2020)

Mariola Śliwińska‐Kowalska Kamil Zaborowski Anna Wolniakowska Adam Dudarewicz Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska

The entertainment industry can pose a risk of hearing impairment to employees. The aim of the study is to assess whether occupational exposure to loud sounds (music) is related to temporary hearing threshold shifts in fitness instructors. The study comprised a total of 29 fitness instructors working in fitness clubs. The noise dosimeters were used to determine individual noise exposure during typical 1-2 hours exercises conducting by the instructors. Pure-tone audiometry and Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) were performed before and just after the session to assess temporary changes in hearing. The A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure level (LAeq,T) during typical exercises session ranged from 76.3 to 96 dB. Referring to the 3-dB equal energy rule, such exposures may exceed the upper exposure action value (85 dB) set for the occupational settings by the Directive 2003/10/EC. A significant temporary threshold shift (at least 6 dB) was observed in 33 audiograms (40 %). No impairment of speech understanding was observed in the HINT. Fitness instructors may constitute a population at increased risk of hearing impairment. Further studies are needed to conclude on hearing protection programs in this group of workers.

Audiogram

Hearing protection

Auditory fatigue

10.1121/1.5147741

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