303785
Solvent Exposure Associated with Hearing Loss in Department of Energy Workers
Objective: Analyze the effect of solvent exposures on HL in former DOE workers.
Methods: Participant audiometry and work-history were reviewed for three DOE facilities. Workers were employed for at least ten years and reported exposures to noise, chlorinated or aromatic solvents.
Results: 580 audiometry exams were performed during initial exams for former workers at the Lawrence Livermore, Lawrence Berkeley and Sandia-California National Laboratories. Overall, 49% (287) met OSHA criteria for material HL. Of the 369 people who reported exposure to both noise and solvents, 54% (200) had HL. In the 163 workers reporting noise exposure only, 37% (60) had HL, while of the 48 reporting solvent exposure only, 56% (27) had HL. We will present additional data regarding types of solvents used, age, other exposures and job titles affected.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the risk of HL in DOE workers appears increased for those who worked with solvents, both in noise exposed work environments and for those with no reported work-related noise exposures.
Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safetyLearning Objectives:
Discuss the role solvent exposure has on occupationally induced hearing loss in DOE workers.
Keyword(s): Occupational Health and Safety
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I work as an Outreach and Clinical coordinator for the Worker Health Protection Program, a medical screening program for former Department of Energy workers. The audiometry and work-history analyzed for this presentation was collected from participants of the medical screening program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.