Abstract
Noise is known that the physical risk factors defined as any unwanted sound. It can induce the health problems such as hearing loss or annoyance. The objective of this study was to assess the occupational noise exposure of nine groups for twenty peoples according to job characteristics and to compare the noise level by different variables. Personal noise levels were measured for three times using by dosimeters for each participant in Korea. The mean time weighted average noise level (TWA) of total was 73.2 ± 11.5 dBA by American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH) standard. Especially, Korean classical music students were highly exposed to 93.2 ± 6.2 dBA but, office workers were 63.2 ± 6.6 dBA. In case of peak sound pressure level (Lpeak), Korean classical music students and firefighters were exposed to the highest level of 151.8 dBC and 145.8 dBC during playing and dispatching, respectively. The analysis of noise level showed that Leq had positive correlations between TWA by ministry of employment and labour (MOEL) (r = 0.98, p < 0.01) and TWA by ACGIH (r = 0.98, p < 0.01). Unlikely other groups, the noise exposure level of the Korean classical music students were exceeded the ACGIH standard. These results suggest that Korean classical music students were exposed high noise level and some solutions are need to reduce the noise exposure level such as using hearing protect device.
Highlights
Noise is a physical risk factor defined as any unwanted sound in the environment
Korean classical music students were highly exposed to the noise level exceeding the standard
The results implied that the students were exposed to different levels of noises depending to the instrument
Summary
Noise is a physical risk factor defined as any unwanted sound in the environment. It induces health problems such as stress and annoyance. American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH) and the national institute for occupational safety and health (NIOSH) set the standard level of noise exposure as 85 dBA applying 3 dB exchange rates for 8 hours. According to the noise standard by ministry of employment and labour (MOEL) in Korea, the noise exposure level is 90 dBA applying 5 dBA exchange rates in workplace It equals to the standard set by the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) in the state. Most studies are progressed for occupations such as firefighter, railroad operator, call center worker, construction worker and manufacture worker in Korea These workers are exposed to high levels of noise exceeding the exposure standard (90 dBA) [14,15,16,17,18,19]. This study is the first empirical research that compared the occupational noise exposure of diverse groups
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