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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sadrivaan A and B (The Hilton Istanbul Hotel )
Background
Noise has multidimensional effects on human health. Right along with hearing loss, many body functions can be influenced negatively with exposure to duration, frequency, and power of noise. Some occupations are more vulnerable to noise exposure like vehicle drivers. This study aims to define the health risks due to noise exposure among shuttle bus drivers which is important because this issue is presently unregulated by current laws.
Methods
Noise levels were measured by a portable device “Quest Technologies Sound Pro DL”. In the study, continuous measurements were done in 100 vehicles on duty and a questionnaire was conducted on the voluntary drivers assessing their socio-demographic characteristics and health status. Noise measurements were carried out with following settings: exchange rate 1, C weighting, and slow response. All written and oral permissions were ensured.
Results
Mean noise level for all measurements was 81.3 ± 7.7 dB with minimum and maximum values of 46 and 111 dB respectively. Shortest measurement was 15 minutes and longest was 45 minutes long. There were statistically significant relation between the age and vehicle body of the vehicle and the measured noise level (p=0.948 and 0.568 respectively). Noise levels were measured higher among drivers who are having a chronic disease, having a health problem in last month, suffering from sleeplessness, nervousness, headache, chest pain, and muscular tension but these relations were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
Results indicate that noise levels do not pose a threat for drivers’ heath. The insignificant relation between health outcomes and noise exposure might be caused from small sample group of the study. Although there aren’t any health risks due to noise exposure for shuttle bus drivers, legal arrangement should be considered relying on scientific findings to prevent long term health effects of noise.
Noise has multidimensional effects on human health. Right along with hearing loss, many body functions can be influenced negatively with exposure to duration, frequency, and power of noise. Some occupations are more vulnerable to noise exposure like vehicle drivers. This study aims to define the health risks due to noise exposure among shuttle bus drivers which is important because this issue is presently unregulated by current laws.
Methods
Noise levels were measured by a portable device “Quest Technologies Sound Pro DL”. In the study, continuous measurements were done in 100 vehicles on duty and a questionnaire was conducted on the voluntary drivers assessing their socio-demographic characteristics and health status. Noise measurements were carried out with following settings: exchange rate 1, C weighting, and slow response. All written and oral permissions were ensured.
Results
Mean noise level for all measurements was 81.3 ± 7.7 dB with minimum and maximum values of 46 and 111 dB respectively. Shortest measurement was 15 minutes and longest was 45 minutes long. There were statistically significant relation between the age and vehicle body of the vehicle and the measured noise level (p=0.948 and 0.568 respectively). Noise levels were measured higher among drivers who are having a chronic disease, having a health problem in last month, suffering from sleeplessness, nervousness, headache, chest pain, and muscular tension but these relations were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
Results indicate that noise levels do not pose a threat for drivers’ heath. The insignificant relation between health outcomes and noise exposure might be caused from small sample group of the study. Although there aren’t any health risks due to noise exposure for shuttle bus drivers, legal arrangement should be considered relying on scientific findings to prevent long term health effects of noise.
Learning Objectives: 1) Define the key points of noise measurement 2) Recognize the importance of noise exposure on human health 3) Identify the vulnerable groups for noise exposure 4) Describe the current noise exposure situations of shuttle bus drivers 5) Discuss the necessity of legal arrangements concerning noise exposures of shuttle bus drivers
Sub-Theme: Environmental and Occupational Health
See more of: Poster: Environmental and Occupational Health
See more of: Public Health Practices Around the Globe
See more of: Public Health Practices Around the Globe