[Cross-sectional studies on hearing ability in a plant in the chemical industry]

A study carried out in a total of 1287 workers (artisans and chemical and pharmaceutical production workers), aged between 30 and 59 years and exposed to industrial noise of 83 to 100 dB(A) (LEQ), is presented. The chemical production workers are less exposed to noise than the artisans, who have long been known to be at particular risk, but they are also definitely at risk. The prevalence of hearing defects among these workers is 54%, with deafness in 14%. From the comparison with the pharmaceutical workers, who are exposed to industrial noise not exceeding 86 dB(A), it may be assumed that at least 75% of these cases of deafness are caused by industrial noise at the present or at past places of work.