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

Jeffrey L Levin; William F Curry III; Sara Shepherd; J Torey Nalbone; Matthew W Nonnenmann

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000642

Back

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

Journal article

Peer reviewed

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

Jeffrey L Levin, William F Curry III, Sara Shepherd, J Torey Nalbone and Matthew W Nonnenmann

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, Vol.58(3), pp.306-313

03/2016

DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000000642

PMID: 26949882

View Online

Abstract

Noise is a hazard in commercial fishing. This cross-sectional study associates occupational noise exposure with hearing loss in commercial fishermen. 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. 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. Commercial fishermen in the Gulf may be at a considerable risk of occupational NIHL and would benefit from hearing conservation programs.

Gulf of Mexico

United States - epidemiology

Prevalence

Age Factors

Audiometry

Cross-Sectional Studies

Noise, Occupational - adverse effects

Occupational Exposure - adverse effects

Hearing Loss - epidemiology

Humans

Middle Aged

Seafood

Male

Food Industry

Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - epidemiology

Health Surveys

Time Factors

Adult

Female

Details

Title: Subtitle: Hearing Loss and Noise Exposure Among Commercial Fishermen in the Gulf Coast
Creators: Jeffrey L Levin - Department of Occupational Health Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Drs Levin, Curry, Shepherd); Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas (Dr Nalbone); and Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa (Dr Nonnenmann)
William F Curry III
Sara Shepherd
J Torey Nalbone
Matthew W Nonnenmann
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, Vol.58(3), pp.306-313
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000000642
PMID: 26949882
ISSN: 1076-2752
eISSN: 1536-5948
Language: English
Date published: 03/2016
Academic Unit: Occupational and Environmental Health; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983997326002771

Metrics

15 Record Views

22 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details