Features of the impact of occupational noise and accompanying hygienic factors on the state of the acoustic analyzer and the morbidity of the operators of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages’ bottling at «Obolon» corporation

Abstract

Objective: We studied the state of acoustic analyzer and morbidity in the "noise" professions’ workers of food industry. Materials and methods: We performed the hygienic studies of labor conditions, analysis of morbidity, detailed clinical examination of the state of acoustic analyzer, determination of the biological age of "noise" professions’ workers at the PJSC "Obolon". Results: Noise was determined to be a leading harmful factor of the occupational environment of the "noise" professions’ workers at the PJSC "Obolon”, noise levels exceeded the permissible values by 1-11 dBA. We revealed a deterioration of acoustic function, especially for the tones in the extended frequencies’ range, among the examined “noise” professions’ workers and signs of the impact of noise on the central parts of the acoustic analyser, manifested in the infringement of the function of its truncal and cortical structures. Frequency of the detection of sensory-neural deafness and diseases of circulatory system in the operators of beverage bottling was established to be statistically higher than in the control group (р≤0.05). Accelerated aging rates in the workers of "noise" professions were revealed. Conclusions: The causal relationship among conditions, character of labor and frequency of the detection of diseases, changes at different levels of the acoustic analyzer, rates of aging of "noise" professions’ workers was established.