Exposure to exhaust fume at work is associated with hearing impairment

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To determine whether hearing impairment, defined by using objective audiometry, is associated with exhaust fume exposure at work. METHODS: Study participants are US adults aged 18 years or older (N = 3,867) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007-2012, a nationally representative sample. Hearing ability was defined according to a speech‐frequency pure tone average of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better‐hearing ear. Thresholds of hearing impairment severity were based on American Speech‐Language Hearing Association guidelines (normal hearing 25.0 dB, mild to profound impairment ≥25.0). RESULTS:After adjusting for sex, BMI, income, education level, smoking status, multivariate odds ratios (ORs) for hearing impairment were 1.521 (95%CI, 1.042 - 2.221) comparing normal hearing for 65 years or older CONCLUSIONS:Exposure to exhaust fume at work were significantly associated with hearing impairment for 65 years or older. KEYWORDS: Exhaust fume, Exhaust gas, Hearing impairment