REVIEW PAPER
The risk of hearing loss associated with occupational exposure to organic solvents mixture with and without concurrent noise exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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1
Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
(Department of Occupational Health, Health Promotion Research Center)
2
Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
(Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Promotion Research Center)
3
Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
(Community Medicine Department)
4
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
(Department of Health and Nutrition School Library)
Online publication date: 2017-05-23
Corresponding author
Ramazan Mirzaei
Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Occupational Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Seyed Razi 40,
9188733377, Zahedan, Iran
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2017;30(4):521-35
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ABSTRACT
This study is a meta-analysis of the previous epidemiological studies which investigated the quantitative estimates of the association
between independent or combined exposure to noise and mixed organic solvents and hearing loss until October
2014. Overall, 15 studies with information on 7530 individuals (6% female) were included. Having assessed – by puretone
audiometry – the adjusted odds ratio estimates for the association between solvents mixture exposure and the risk of
developing hearing loss stood at 2.05 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44–2.9). Similarly, for subjects who were concurrently
exposed to noise and solvents mixture, an OR of 2.95 (95% CI: 2.1–4.17) was obtained. There was some evidence of heterogeneity
within each of the 2 exposure groups (p heterogeneity < 0.001). This heterogeneity was not explained by differences
in strength of effect between duration of exposure, the number of solvent and exposure index in subgroups of solvents mixture
exposure. Based on the available data, our analysis has provided the evidence of increased risk of developing hearing
loss for workers exposed to organic solvents even at quite low concentration. Moreover, if such exposure is accompanied by
noise, it will exacerbate the extent of hearing loss. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(4):521–535