Objective To explore the effect of occupational noise exposure on the prevalence of high frequency hearing loss (HFHL) as well as the activities of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT),glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamyl transpeptidase (GTP) in workers.
Methods A cross-sectional epidemiological study,including health examination and hearing test,was conducted among 716 workers exposed to industrial noise and 133 controls without noise exposure.Their prevalence of HFHL and serum transaminase were compared and analyzed.
Results The prevalence of HFHL in the noise exposure group (30.73%) was significantly higher than that of the controls (23.31%)(χ2=6.347,P=0.012).The prevalence of HFHL in the noise exposure group was increased with age (linear-by-linear association χ2=4.917,P=0.027) and noise exposure years (linear-by-linear association χ2=66.241,P=0.000).Compared with the control group,the serum SGOT (t=3.185,P=0.002),GPT (t=2.907,P=0.004),and GTP (t=2.801,P=0.006) were all increased greatly in the noise exposure group.
Conclusion Hearing loss can be caused by long-term noise exposure.In addition,noise can induce changes in activities of serum transaminase.
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