Occupational hearing impairment in coal mining across Asia-Pacific: Patterns, risks, and implications

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Audiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Coal miners are highly susceptible to occupational noise exposure, increasing their risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
• The Asia-Pacific region faces challenges in preventing hearing impairment due to industrial growth and inconsistent health regulation enforcement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evidence on occupational hearing impairment patterns, risk factors, and challenges among Asia-Pacific coal miners.
• To inform policy and guide interventions for hearing loss prevention in this workforce.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies (2014-2025) from five databases was conducted.
• Twelve studies from China, Australia, Turkey, and India, covering over 130,000 miners, were included after quality appraisal using the CASP checklist.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) was consistently found.
• Key risk factors include exposure duration, job category, age, poor workplace conditions, outdated machinery, and insufficient personal protective equipment use.
• Hearing loss frequently co-occurred with other occupational diseases like pneumoconiosis and hypertension.

Conclusions:

• Occupational hearing impairment is a significant, preventable issue for Asia-Pacific coal miners.
• Urgent need for enhanced hearing conservation programs, stricter regulatory enforcement, and focused research to mitigate NIHL and improve auditory health.