Auditory and non-auditory effects, monitoring and mapping of occupational exposure to noise

Abstract

Noise, defined as unwanted or misplaced sound, produces negative impacts on people's health and well-being and is a growing concern of health authorities, administrators, educators. Some reviews of the legislative and regulatory scenarios, show a clear lack of consideration of the non-auditory effects produced by exposure to noise and poor acoustic quality in the workplace, this paper refers to experiences and methods aimed at understanding the different aspects of risk. Non-auditory aspects are added to the auditory ones, considered at the moment as the only area of noise risk assessment. The acute extra-auditory effects from exposure to noise are also studied. Among the risk-enhancing factors we consider the negative synergy between noise and air pollution. Analysis of industrial noise at operator's positions of different industrial sites was carried out. The results of measurements are allowing determine positions with significant excesses of the sanitary standards of noise levels and valid sanitary norms. Especially significant noise values were observed in low frequency range. Maps of noise levels at working places of different industrial sites were developed.