Study Of Effects And Mechanism Of Combine Exposure To Welding Fumes And Noise On Hearing

â… .BackgroundAt present, chemicals, noise and dusts still are main occupational hazards in workplaces. Occupational health conservationists'main concerns still are chronic or acute poisoning and hearing loss induced by noise. Occupational hearing loss often was attributing to noise exposure, but noise wasn't the only hearing hazard. Certain chemicals in the workplaces could damage the hair cells in the inner ear just like noise. Even some chemicals were synergistic with noise exposure. The impact of combined exposure could do greater damage than exposure to either hazard alone. Many domestic and foreign laboratory studies could confirm the synergistic effects of exposure to noise and chemicals on hearing.Welding and riveting are two associated operation procedures in the production process of structural metallic materials. There might exist welding fumes, riveting noise and other occupational hazards, which can synergistically damage workers'health. The welding fumes emitting from welding process contains a mixture of some metal aerosol and toxic gases, which includes of manganese, iron, zinc, nitric oxides, carbon monoxide and ozone, etc. Riveting process produces intense noise. There might be a synergistic interaction combined exposure to welding fumes and riveting noise, which would pose more serious health hazards on workers'body, especially on auditory system.â…¡.Objective1. To investigate occupational hazards and health preventive measures in workplaces of steel plants, especially pay more attention to concentrations of air manganese and intensity of noise produced in riveting.2. To investigate workers'exposure-time, exposure routes and exposure style of occupational hazards in workplaces and personal protective measures.3. To evaluate the potential effects of combined exposure to welding fumes and riveting noise on hearing, explore parts of possible mechanisms of combined exposure action.4. According to occupational hazards existing in workplaces and health impairment symptoms of workers, we can make some effectively preventable measures.â…¢.MethodThe study group was consisted of 65 workers chronically exposure to welding fumes and riveting noise in some Steel plant. Another 59 boilermakers from the same plant were chose as the noise exposure group. The control group was consisted of 55 unexposed healthy electricians. We compared age, exposure-time, sex, life styles among the three groups, and there were no...