Coexposure to Solvents and Noise as a Risk Factor for Hearing Loss in Agricultural Workers

Alexandra A. Farfalla, Cheryl Beseler, Chandran Achutan, Risto Rautiainen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective This study addressed the relationship of hearing loss and coexposure to solvents and noise among farmers and ranchers in central United States. Methods The surveillance study included surveys to stratified random samples of operations in 2018 and 2020 (n = 34,146), requesting information on injuries, illnesses, exposures, and preventive measures. Responses (n = 7495) were analyzed using hierarchical multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for personal and work characteristics. Results Nearly 60% of respondents exposed to both solvents and noise reported hearing loss. The exposures increased the adjusted odds of moderate/severe hearing loss as follows: solvents alone, (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-2.38), noise alone (OR, 4.42; 95% CI, 3.39-5.76), and coexposure to both noise and solvents (OR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.67-7.78). Conclusions Solvent exposure, along with noise, should be considered in hearing conservation programs among farmers and ranchers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)754-760
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of occupational and environmental medicine
Volume64
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2022

Keywords

  • agriculture
  • coexposures
  • hearing loss
  • noise
  • ototoxicity
  • solvents

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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