Occupational hearing impairment in pig breeders

Individuals employed at pig breeding facilities are exposed to potentially harmful noise from several sources. In a building housing about 1,100 pigs, the animals themselves were found to produce a sustained noise level between 95 and 104 dBA during the feeding procedure. High-pressure cleaners used for cleaning the buildings generate between 98 and 105 dBA. We present a case of typical noise-induced hearing loss, which, with reasonable certainty, can be ascribed entirely to this kind of noise exposure. General use of hearing protectors in the profession is recommended.