Cumulative Noise Exposure and Perceived Effects: A Comparative Study Among Different Occupational Groups in Kolkata

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Established adverse health effects from high noise levels.
• Focus on environment-specific noise exposure and its health impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between environment-specific noise exposure and adverse health effects.
• To compare noise exposure and perceived health effects in auto-rickshaw drivers and service-sector employees.

Main Methods:

• Comparative cross-sectional study involving 50 auto-rickshaw drivers and 51 service-sector employees.
• Measurement of peak average noise exposure in decibels (dB).
• Assessment of exposure duration and perceived responses via a semi-structured questionnaire.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in mean average peak noise exposure between groups (approx. 91.8 dB).
• Auto-rickshaw drivers reported higher instances of perceived stress (82%), hearing difficulty (64%), and lack of sleep (74%).
• Higher cumulative noise exposure was associated with increased odds of irritation, stress, palpitation, and lack of sleep (ORs ranging from 2.18 to 5.81).

Conclusions:

• Perceived stress and lack of sleep are key effects of noise exposure.
• Higher cumulative noise exposure is a more significant predictor of perceived symptoms than average peak noise levels.