Estudo das emissões otoacústicas em trabalhadores metalúrgicos expostos a ruído e solventes

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational noise has always been a common risk to the workers' health, therefore deserves special attention by professionals of occupational health and safety. In addition to the noise, there are other risks in the working environment (chemical, pressure, vibration, temperature and others) that may cause detrimental health effects. Objective: To investigate the results and contributions of the responses of otoacoustic emissions in metalworkers with simultaneous exposure to noise and solvents. Method: A total of 69 workers of a metallurgical industry, with normal hearing, through the application of a questionnaire and the examinations of TEOAE and DPOAE. These subjects were compared in three groups: G1, only noise exposed; G2, noise and solvents exposed; and G3, the control group non exposed to any of the agents. Results: The occurrence of absent responses in TEOAE test was 39.1% (RE) and 47.8% (LE) in G1, 65.2% (RE) and 73.9% (LE) in G2 and 26 1% (RE) and 30.4% (LE) in G3. The proportion of TEOAE absence in G2 was higher in both the RE (p = 0.024), and in LE (p = 0.012). The absent response in DPOAE was 73.9% (RE) and 78.3% (LE) in G1, 87.0% (RE) and 95.7% (LE) in G2 and 39.1% (RE) and 47.8% (LE) in G3. The proportion of absence in EOPD was higher in G2, both in RE (p = 0.002), and in LE (p = 0.001). The worst responses were in f2 = 6 kHz in the DPOAEs of RE and in the f2 = 4 kHz and f2 =6 kHz for the left ear. The TEOAE and DPOAE responses of RE indicated a statistically significant association in the three groups (p <0.049). In LE has been detected association only for the G1 and G3 (p <0.038). There was no difference between the means of the variable age in the presence and absence of OAE responses. Conclusion: The responses of TEOAE and DPOAE tests were worse in the group with simultaneous exposure to noise and solvents. Otoacoustic emissions are an important tool in the early identification of adverse effects caused by the combination of solvents and noise