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Lee, Lee, Shin, Park, and Lee: The Relationship between Occupational Lead Exposure and Minor Hearing Impairment
Original Article

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995; 7(1): 10-20.

Published online: 1 February 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1995.7.1.10

The Relationship between Occupational Lead Exposure and Minor Hearing Impairment

Nam Hee Lee, Jong Tae Lee, Hae Lim Shin, In Guen Park, Chae Un Lee

Graduate School of Public Health, Inje University, Korea.

Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Inje University, Korea.

Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Korea.

Department of Preventive Medicine, Kosin College of Medicine, Korea.

Copyright © 1995 The Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Abstract

In this study the relationship between occupational lead exposure and minor hearing impairment was investigated in a cross-sectional design with 50 lead exposed workers from January to April 1994, The data were collected from the interview with the structured questionnaire which included sociodemographic variables and medical histories especially ear disease and occupational histories. Lead exposure indices which were blood lead, urine lead, zinc protoporphyrin in urine, and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine were analyzed, Also study subjects were examined pure-tone hearing test.
The results were as follows ;
1. There were significant differences in lead indices between lead-exposed workers and non-exposed workers.
2. The duration of lead exposure did not affect the hearing impairment among lead exposed workers.
3. Minor hearing impairment were higher in lead-exposed workers than non-exposed workers, but there were not statisticatly significant.
The result from this study indicated that lead exposed workers should be monitored to prevent hearing impairment and would be needed health education.

Keywords: Lead exposed workers, Blood lead concentration, Hearing impairment

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