Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania

Background: Gas-fired electric plants are equipped with heavy machines, which produce hazards including noise pollution. Exposure to high level of noise of above 85dB(A) is known to bring about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This study aimed to assess noise exposure level and reported prevalence...

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Autores principales:	Witness John, Gloria Sakwari, Simon Hendry Mamuya
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Ubiquity Press 2018
Materias:	Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/6040bd9dfa634947ace5e0e684488295
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:6040bd9dfa634947ace5e0e6844882952021-12-02T03:23:59ZNoise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania2214-999610.29024/aogh.2305https://doaj.org/article/6040bd9dfa634947ace5e0e6844882952018-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/2305https://doaj.org/toc/2214-9996Background: Gas-fired electric plants are equipped with heavy machines, which produce hazards including noise pollution. Exposure to high level of noise of above 85dB(A) is known to bring about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This study aimed to assess noise exposure level and reported prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in gas-fired electric plants. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three gas-fired electric plants in Dar es Salaam (Plant A, Plant B and Plant C) from July to August 2017. A noise logging dosimeter was used to measure personal noise exposure level. A questionnaire was used to collect information on managerial factors, individual factors, socio-demographic factors and history of the participants. A short screening validated questionnaire was used to obtain noise exposure score. Frequency distribution, Chi-square test and Regression analyses were done using SPSS version 20. Results: One hundred and six participants were involved in the study. Noise exposure level among gas-fired electric plant workers was above 85dB(A), n = 37. The equivalent sound level (LAeq) measured over 8 hours was (98.6 ± 9.7) dB(A). The mean noise peak level was (139.5 ± 9.4) dB(A). Plant C had higher mean noise exposure level (TWA) of (96.9 ± 5.1) dB(A) compared to plant B 96.4 ± 3.7dB(A) and plant A 78.7 ± 11.9dB(A). Participants in both operation and maintenance had higher equivalent sound level (LAeq) measured over eight hours of 101.980 ± 3.6dB(A) compared to maintenance alone 98.5 ± 12.4dB (A) or operation 97.7 ± 8.8dB (A). Proportion of participants with reported hearing loss was 57(53.8%) where 44(41.5%) participants reported difficulty hearing people during conversations. Hearing protective devices (HPDs) were reported to be used by a majority, 101(95.3%). Conclusion: Workers in gas-fired plants are exposed to high noise levels that could damage their hearing. Hearing conservation programs should be established and maintained in this work environment.Witness JohnGloria SakwariSimon Hendry MamuyaUbiquity PressarticleInfectious and parasitic diseasesRC109-216Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENAnnals of Global Health, Vol 84, Iss 3, Pp 523-531 (2018)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Witness John Gloria Sakwari Simon Hendry Mamuya Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania
description	Background: Gas-fired electric plants are equipped with heavy machines, which produce hazards including noise pollution. Exposure to high level of noise of above 85dB(A) is known to bring about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This study aimed to assess noise exposure level and reported prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in gas-fired electric plants. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three gas-fired electric plants in Dar es Salaam (Plant A, Plant B and Plant C) from July to August 2017. A noise logging dosimeter was used to measure personal noise exposure level. A questionnaire was used to collect information on managerial factors, individual factors, socio-demographic factors and history of the participants. A short screening validated questionnaire was used to obtain noise exposure score. Frequency distribution, Chi-square test and Regression analyses were done using SPSS version 20. Results: One hundred and six participants were involved in the study. Noise exposure level among gas-fired electric plant workers was above 85dB(A), n = 37. The equivalent sound level (LAeq) measured over 8 hours was (98.6 ± 9.7) dB(A). The mean noise peak level was (139.5 ± 9.4) dB(A). Plant C had higher mean noise exposure level (TWA) of (96.9 ± 5.1) dB(A) compared to plant B 96.4 ± 3.7dB(A) and plant A 78.7 ± 11.9dB(A). Participants in both operation and maintenance had higher equivalent sound level (LAeq) measured over eight hours of 101.980 ± 3.6dB(A) compared to maintenance alone 98.5 ± 12.4dB (A) or operation 97.7 ± 8.8dB (A). Proportion of participants with reported hearing loss was 57(53.8%) where 44(41.5%) participants reported difficulty hearing people during conversations. Hearing protective devices (HPDs) were reported to be used by a majority, 101(95.3%). Conclusion: Workers in gas-fired plants are exposed to high noise levels that could damage their hearing. Hearing conservation programs should be established and maintained in this work environment.
format	article
author	Witness John Gloria Sakwari Simon Hendry Mamuya
author_facet	Witness John Gloria Sakwari Simon Hendry Mamuya
author_sort	Witness John
title	Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania
title_short	Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania
title_full	Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania
title_fullStr	Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed	Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania
title_sort	noise exposure and self-reported hearing impairment among gas-fired electric plant workers in tanzania
publisher	Ubiquity Press
publishDate	2018
url	https://doaj.org/article/6040bd9dfa634947ace5e0e684488295
work_keys_str_mv	AT witnessjohn noiseexposureandselfreportedhearingimpairmentamonggasfiredelectricplantworkersintanzania AT gloriasakwari noiseexposureandselfreportedhearingimpairmentamonggasfiredelectricplantworkersintanzania AT simonhendrymamuya noiseexposureandselfreportedhearingimpairmentamonggasfiredelectricplantworkersintanzania
_version_	1718401795003252736

Noise Exposure and Self-reported Hearing Impairment among Gas-fired Electric Plant Workers in Tanzania

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