New study demonstrates risk of hearing loss for truck drivers

Research indicates chronic exposure to noise and workplace carbon monoxide induces hearing loss, and truckers are among those most at risk.

The conclusions were based on a study of nearly 9,000 workers exposed to both occupational noise and carbon monoxide. Other than truckers, the workers most at risk were welders, firefighters, garage mechanics, forklift operators and miners. A connection between carbon monoxide exposure and hearing loss had been established in animal studies but not in humans.

The University of Montreal study, using National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health data, compared the hearing of workers exposed to noise levels lower than 90 decibels for 8 hours to the hearing of workers exposed to noise above 90 decibels. In both groups, a sample of workers was also exposed to carbon monoxide.

The study found employees exposed to carbon monoxide and to noise levels above 90 decibels displayed significantly poorer hearing thresholds at high frequencies.

Source: eTrucker.com, "Study demonstrates trucker's risk of hearing loss" - Jill Dunn
Photo: "Larry's car in truckers mirror". Online image. simonsdiary.co.uk.