Evaluation of hearing protection used by police officers in the shooting range

AbstractIntroductionImpact noise is characterized by acoustic energy peaks that last less than a second, at intervals of more than 1s.ObjectiveTo quantify the levels of impact noise to which police officers are exposed during activities at the shooting range and to evaluate the attenuation of the hearing protector.MethodsMeasurements were performed in the shooting range of a military police department. An SV 102 audiodosimeter (Svantek) was used to measure sound pressure levels. Two microphones were used simultaneously: one external and one insertion type; the firearm used was a 0.40 Taurus® rimless pistol.ResultsThe values obtained with the external microphone were 146dBC (peak), and a maximum sound level of 129.4dBC (fast). The results obtained with the insertion microphone were 138.7dBC (peak), and a maximum sound level of 121.6dBC (fast).ConclusionThe findings showed high levels of sound pressure in the shooting range, which exceeded the maximum recommended noise (120dBC), even when measured through the insertion microphone. Therefore, alternatives to improve the performance of hearing protection should be considered

Avaliação audiológica e quantificação da exposição ao ruído em profissionais do corpo de bombeiros

O bombeiro é um profissional que possui treino e equipamento adequado para desenvolver diversas tarefas como apagar incêndios, resgatar pessoas e fornecer assistência em desastres naturais, e dessa forma, estão constantemente expostos ao ruído. Tal exposição pode ocasionar a perda auditiva induzida pelo ruído (PAIR), que se caracteriza por uma perda insidiosa e cumulativa, do tipo neurossensorial. Sendo assim objetivou-se delinear o perfil audiológico dos bombeiros e mapear os diferentes ambientes acústicos a que estes profissionais se expõem. Participaram desse estudo 41 bombeiros que foram submetidos à anamnese audiológica, inspeção do conduto auditivo, audiometria tonal liminar, logoaudiometria, imitanciometria e emissões otoacústica evocadas por produto de distorção (EOAPD). Foram realizadas também as medições das exposições dos níveis de pressão sonora (NPS) dos equipamentos e nos ambientes do 10º Grupamento de Bombeiros da cidade de Marília-SP utilizando um audiodosímetro digital. Como resultado obteve-se 11 (27%) dos bombeiros com limiares tonais sugestivos de PAIR, no entanto, destes, apenas 4 (36%) foram bilaterais, 2 (18%) unilaterais com orelha contralateral não sugestiva de PAIR e 5 (46%) unilaterais com orelha contralateral normal. Nas amplitudes das EOAPD houve diferença significativa entre as orelhas normais e as orelhas sugestivas de PAIR nas frequências de 4 e 6 kHz à direita e 6 kHz à esquerda, e entre as orelhas normais e não sugestivas de PAIR em 2, 3 e 6 kHz à direita e em 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 e 8 kHz à esquerda. Houve correlação significativa entre os resultados das audiometrias tonais liminares e as EOAPD para as frequências de 2, 3, 4 e 6 kHz à direita e para 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, e 8 kHz à esquerda. No mapeamento sonoro as medições realizadas na Central de Operações dos Bombeiros Militares (COBOM) registraram nível equivalente...The firefighter is a professional who has training and equipment to conduct various tasks such as putting out fires, rescue people and give assistance in the natural disaster, so they are constantly exposed to the noise. This exposure can lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which is characterized by an insidious and cumulative sensorineural loss. The aim was trace the audiological profile of firefighters and to analyze the acoustic environments that these professionals are exposed. The study included 41 firefighters who were submitted to audiologic anamnesis, inspection of the external auditory canal, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). Were also carried out measurements the sound pressure levels of the equipment and environments in the 10th Fire Department in Marília-SP using a digital dosimeter. The result of this study showed 11 (27%) of firefighters had hearing thresholds suggestive of NIHL, however only 4 (36%) of these cases were suggestive of bilateral NIHL, 2 (18%) was unilateral with opposite ear not suggestive of NIHL, and 5 (46%) was unilateral with opposite normal ear. It was observed statistical difference in DPOAE the amplitudes of normal ears and of ears suggestive of NIHL in the frequencies of 4 and 6 kHz at the right ear and 6 kHz at the left ear, and between normal ears and the ears not suggestive of NIHL in 2, 3 and 6 kHz at the right and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz at the left ears. There was correlation between the results of pure tone audiometry and DPOAE in 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz frequencies of right ears and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz of left ear. In the sound mapping, the measurements performed in the Operations Center of Military Firefighters recorded the equivalent noise level (Leq) was 79,35 dB(A) in the external environment and 92,37 dB(A) in the head-sets... (Complete abstract click electronic access below

Firefighters' noise exposure: A literature review

Aim: To review the literature about the effects of environmental noise on the hearing ability of firefighters. Method: The PubMed and Scielo databases were searched and studies from 2002 to 2012 that included the keywords firefighters, noise, and hearing loss were identified. Initially, 24 studies were selected, but only 10 met the inclusion criteria of investigating the effects of occupational noise on firefighters. Results: Only 2 (20%) studies quantified levels of sound pressure and performed audiological tests to identify associations with noise intensity and 3 (30%) questionnaire-based studies reported that these professionals are more susceptible to hearing loss. Four (50%) studies found that noise exposure damages the auditory system in this population. Discussion: These findings indicate that there is a necessity for preventive measures to be adopted by this population since it is considered to be at risk. Conclusion: In recent years, there have been few studies of firefighters' exposure to occupational noise, but our findings show the importance of new studies that include proper means of quantifying their exposure to noise in different work environments, in order to identify possible adverse conditions as well as to aid in the diagnosis of hearing loss

Análise dos níveis de pressão sonora dos sons emitidos por brinquedos ruidosos

As experiências sonoras são muito importantes e estimulantes no desenvolvimento das crianças, elevados níveis de ruídos emitidos por brinquedos podem prejudicar a saúde auditiva das crianças. Este estudo analisou os níveis de ruídos emitidos por alguns brinquedos nacionalmente comercializados, pois essas irregularidades podem acarretar prejuízos não só à vida familiar como também no desenvolvimento escolar. Dos brinquedos analisados na distância de 2,5 cm (em relação à orelha), 90% excederam o padrão exigido pela legislação brasileira; na distância de 25 cm (distância média do braço da criança) 50% excederam esse mesmo padrão. Essa análise mostra que a maioria dos brinquedos comercializados atualmente, os quais não contêm o selo de certificação compulsória do Instituto Nacional de Metodologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial (Inmetro) pode provocar danos à audição das crianças expostas continuamente

Análise acústica em brinquedos ruidosos

PURPOSE: to analyze the levels of noise emitted by nationally-sold toys for use by children from 1 to 5 year old; to compare the values among the toys with and without the seal of Inmetro (National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality) and to analyze the sound spectrum of toys, in order to identify the area of the cochlea that may be more affected by these noises. METHOD: measurements were performed on 20 sound toys (10 with the seal of the Inmetro and 10 without the seal) with the use of digital sound level meter in an acoustically treated room, and the sound analysis was performed using the Praat program. RESULTS: toys placed at 2.5 cm from the equipment with the seal of the Inmetro had an intensity ranging from 61.50 to 91.55 dB (A) and from 69.75 to 95.05 dB (C), positioned at 25 cm ranged from 58.3 to 79.85 dB (A) and from 62.50 to 83.65 dB (C). The results of the toys without warranty stamps placed at 2.5 cm ranged from 67.45 to 94.30 dB (A) and 65.4 to 99.50 dB (C) and the distance of 25 cm recorded from 61. 30 to 87.45 dB (A) and 63.75 to 97.60 dB (C), so that the findings demonstrated that there are noisy toys that go beyond the values recommended by the current legislation in both groups, with and without warranty stamps . CONCLUSION: the toys without the seal of Inmetro showed intensities values significantly higher than the other group, offering more risk to the children s hearing health.OBJETIVO: analisar os níveis de ruídos emitidos por brinquedos nacionalmente comercializados, utilizados por crianças de 1 a 5 anos; comparar os valores entre os brinquedos com e sem selo do Inmetro (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial) e analisar o espectro acústico dos brinquedos, com o intuito de identificar a área da cóclea que pode ser mais afetada por esses ruídos. MÉTODO: as medições foram realizadas em 20 brinquedos sonoros (10 com o selo do Inmetro e 10 sem o selo) com o uso do decibelímetro digital em sala acusticamente tratada, e a análise dos sons emitidos pelos brinquedos foi realizada por meio do programa Praat. RESULTADOS: a intensidade do ruído dos brinquedos com o selo do Inmetro posicionados a 2,5 cm do equipamento variou de 61,50 a 91,55 dB(A) e 69,75 a 95,05 dB(C) e a referente à distância de 25 cm variou entre 58,30 a 79,85 dB(A) e 62,50 a 83,65 dB(C). A intensidade do ruído dos brinquedos sem o selo do Inmetro a 2,5 cm variou entre 67,45 a 94,30 dB(A) e 65,4 a 99,50 dB(C) e na distância de 25 cm registrou desde 61,30 a 87,45 dB(A) e 63,75 a 97,60 dB(C), portanto os achados demonstraram que existem brinquedos ruidosos que ultrapassam os valores recomendados pela legislação vigente em ambos os grupos, com e sem selo do Inmetro. CONCLUSÃO: os brinquedos sem o selo do Inmetro apresentaram valores de intensidade significantemente maior em relação ao outro grupo, oferecendo maior risco à saúde auditiva das crianças