Last data update: May 20, 2024. (Total: 46824 publications since 2009)
Records 1-8 (of 8 Records) |
Query Trace: Thieme M[original query] |
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Preventing occupational hearing loss: 50 years of research and recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Themann CL , Masterson EA , Peterson JS , Murphy WJ . Semin Hear 2023 44 (4) 351-393 For more than 50 years, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been actively working to reduce the effects of noise and ototoxic chemicals on worker hearing. NIOSH has pioneered basic and applied research on occupational hearing risks and preventive measures. The Institute has issued recommendations and promoted effective interventions through mechanisms ranging from formal criteria documents to blogs and social media. NIOSH has conducted surveillance and published statistics to guide policy and target prevention efforts. Over the past five decades, substantial progress has been made in raising awareness of noise as a hazard, reducing the risk of occupational hearing loss, improving the use of hearing protection, and advancing measurement and control technologies. Nevertheless, noise remains a prevalent workplace hazard and occupational hearing loss is still one of the most common work-related conditions. NIOSH continues to work toward preventing the effects of noise and ototoxicants at work and has many resources to assist audiologists in their hearing loss prevention efforts. © 2023 Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.. All rights reserved. |
Audiological tests used in the evaluation of the effects of solvents on the human auditory system: A mixed methods review
Roggia SM , Zucki F , Fuente A , Lacerda ABMD , Gong W , Carlson K , Morata TC . Semin Hear 2023 44 (4) 437-469 This study aimed to scope the literature, identify knowledge gaps, appraise results, and synthesize the evidence on the audiological evaluation of workers exposed to solvents. We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and NIOSHTIC-2 up to March 22, 2021. Using Covidence, two authors independently assessed study eligibility, risk of bias, and extracted data. National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tools was used in the quality evaluation of included studies; the Downs and Black checklist was used to assess the risk of bias. Of 454 located references, 37 were included. Twenty-five tests were studied: two tests to measure hearing thresholds, one test to measure word recognition in quiet, six electroacoustic procedures, four electrophysiological tests, and twelve behavioral tests to assess auditory processing skills. Two studies used the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap. The quality of individual studies was mostly considered moderate, but the overall quality of evidence was considered low. The discrepancies between studies and differences in the methodologies/outcomes prevent recommending a specific test battery to assess the auditory effects of occupational solvents. Decisions on audiological tests for patients with a history of solvent exposures require the integration of the most current research evidence with clinical expertise and stakeholder perspectives. © 2023 Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.. All rights reserved. |
Workers' Compensation costs for occupational hearing loss claims in the United States, 2009-2013
Masterson EA , Wurzelbacher SJ , Bushnell PT , Tseng CY . Semin Hear 2023 44 (4) 412-436 This study estimated the average annual number of U.S. workers' compensation (WC) claims for occupational hearing loss (OHL) and their associated cost and identified the industry/occupation classifications with the highest numbers of OHL claims. The most recent U.S. cost estimate ($242 million) was based on data from one state in 1 year (1991). WC data from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (35 states) and two additional individual states were examined, incorporating data from 37 states and the District of Columbia. Costs and numbers of claims were estimated for the 13 missing states to develop estimates for the United States. Sensitivity analyses were also performed to develop ranges for the point estimates. The estimated U.S. average annual OHL claim cost fell within the range of $49 to $67 million during 2009-2013, with a point estimate of $60 million (2013 dollars). The estimated average annual number of OHL claims ranged from 4,114 to 5,986, with a point estimate of 4,965 claims. Based on data available from 36 states and DC, 18 of the 40 industry/occupation classifications with ≥50 OHL claims were in the manufacturing sector. WC data underestimate the true burden of OHL. Most OHL cases are not compensated. WC laws, industry composition and other factors vary widely by state, so estimates must employ data for many states. This study incorporated data from most states and utilized sensitivity and comparative analyses to obtain estimates. Workers in a wide range of industry/occupation classifications need special attention to prevent OHL. © 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
Noise exposure and hearing loss among workers at a hammer forge company
Brueck SE , Eisenberg J , Zechmann EL , Murphy WJ , Krieg E , Morata TC . Semin Hear 2023 44 (4) 485-502 The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated continuous and impact noise exposures and hearing loss among workers at a hammer forge company. Full-shift personal noise exposure measurements were collected on forge workers across 15 different job titles; impact noise characteristics and one-third octave band noise levels were assessed at the forge hammers; and 4,750 historic audiometric test records for 483 workers were evaluated for hearing loss trends. Nearly all workers' noise exposures exceeded regulatory and/or recommended exposure limits. Workers working in jobs at or near the hammers had full-shift time-weighted average noise exposures above 100 decibels, A-weighted. Impact noise at the hammers reached up to 148 decibels. Analysis of audiometric test records showed that 82% of workers had experienced a significant threshold shift, as defined by NIOSH, and 63% had experienced a standard threshold shift, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). All workers with an OSHA standard threshold shift had a preceding NIOSH significant threshold shift which occurred, on average, about 7 years prior. This evaluation highlights forge workers' exposures to high levels of noise, including impact noise, and how their hearing worsened with age and length of employment. © 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
Evaluating earplug performance over a 2-hour work period with a fit-test system
Gong W , Murphy WJ , Meinke DK , Feng HA , Stephenson MR . Semin Hear 2023 44 (4) 470-484 Workers rely on hearing protection devices to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss. This study aimed to evaluate changes in attenuation over time for properly fit devices when worn by workers exposed to hazardous noise. Earplug fit testing was accomplished on 30 workers at a brewery facility with three types of foam and three types of premolded earplugs. The personal attenuation ratings (PARs) were measured before and after a 2-hour work period while exposed to hazardous noise levels. The minimum acceptable initial PAR was 15 dB. Average decreases in PAR ranged from -0.7 to -2.6 dB across all six earplug types. Significant changes in PAR were observed for the Foam-1 (p = 0.009) and Premold-3 (p = 0.004) earplugs. A linear mixed regression model using HPD type and study year as fixed effects and subject as random effect was not significant for either fixed effect (α = 0.05). Ninety-five percent of the final PAR measurements maintained the target attenuation of 15 dB. Properly fitting earplugs can be effective at reducing worker's noise exposures over time. The potential for a decrease in attenuation during the work shift should be considered when training workers and establishing the adequacy of protection from hazardous noise exposures. © 2023 Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.. All rights reserved. |
Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus in five US-bound refugee populations
Leung J , Lopez A , Mitchell T , Weinberg M , Lee D , Thieme M , Schmid DS , Bialek SR . J Immigr Minor Health 2015 17 (1) 310-3 Little is known about varicella-zoster virus (VZV) susceptibility in US-bound refugee populations, although published data suggest that VZV seroprevalence in these refugee populations may be lower than US populations. We describe VZV seroprevalence in five US-bound refugee groups: (1) Bhutanese in Nepal, (2) Burmese on the Thailand-Burma (Myanmar) border, (3) Burmese in Malaysia, (4) Iraqi in Jordan, and (5) Somali in Kenya. Sera were tested for presence of VZV IgG antibodies among adults aged 18-45 years. Overall VZV seroprevalence was 97% across all refugee groups. VZV seroprevalence was also high across all age groups, with seroprevalence ranging from 92-100% for 18-26 year-olds depending on refugee group and 93-100% for 27-45 year-olds. VZV seroprevalence was unexpectedly high in these five US-bound refugee groups, though may not reflect seroprevalence in other refugee groups. Additional studies are needed to better understand VZV seroprevalence in refugee populations over time and by region. |
Varicella zoster virus in American Samoa: seroprevalence and predictive value of varicella disease history in elementary and college students
Mahamud A , Leung J , Masunu-Faleafaga Y , Teshale E , Williams R , Dulski T , Thieme M , Garcia P , Schmid DS , Bialek SR . Epidemiol Infect 2014 142 (5) 1002-7 The epidemiology of varicella is believed to differ between temperate and tropical countries. We conducted a varicella seroprevalence study in elementary and college students in the US territory of American Samoa before introduction of a routine varicella vaccination programme. Sera from 515 elementary and 208 college students were tested for the presence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG antibodies. VZV seroprevalence increased with age from 76.0% in the 4-6 years group to 97.7% in those aged 23 years. Reported history of varicella disease for elementary students was significantly associated with VZV seropositivity. The positive and negative predictive values of varicella disease history were 93.4% and 36.4%, respectively, in elementary students and 97.6% and 3.0%, respectively, in college students. VZV seroprevalence in this Pacific island appears to be similar to that in temperate countries and suggests endemic VZV circulation. |
Onsite wastewater system nitrogen contributions to groundwater in coastal North Carolina
Humphrey Jr C , O'Driscoll M; , Deal N , Lindbo D , Thieme S , Zarate-Bermudez M . J Environ Health 2013 76 (5) 16-22 The objective of the study described in this article was | to evaluate the nitrogen contributions from two onsite wastewater systems (sites 1 and 2) to groundwater and adjacent surface waters in coastal Beaufort County, North Carolina. Groundwater levels and water quality parameters including total nitrogen, nitrogen species, temperature, and pH were monitored from October 2009 to May 2010. Nitrogen was also tested in groundwater from deeper irrigation or drinking water wells from the two sites and six additional neighboring residences. Mean total nitrogen concentrations | in groundwater beneath onsite wastewater systems 1 and 2 were | 34.3 ± 16.7 mg/L and 12.2 ± 2.9 mg/L, respectively, and significantly higher than background groundwater concentrations (<1 mg/L). Groundwater in the deeper wells appeared not to be influenced by the onsite systems. Groundwater nitrogen concentrations typically decreased with distance down-gradient from the systems, but were still elevated relative to background conditions more than 15 m from the systems and near the estuary. This was a pioneering effort to better understand the link of onsite systems, the fate of nitrogen in the environment, and public health. |
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