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WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Permanent Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Author

Listed:
  • Mariola Śliwińska-Kowalska

    (Clinic of Audiology and Phoniatrics, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Sw.Teresy Str., 91-348 Lodz, Poland)

  • Kamil Zaborowski

    (Department of Physical Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Sw.Teresy Str., 91-348 Lodz, Poland)

Abstract

Background : Hearing loss is defined as worsening of hearing acuity and is usually expressed as an increase in the hearing threshold. Tinnitus, defined as “ringing in the ear”, is a common and often disturbing accompaniment of hearing loss. Hearing loss and environmental exposures to noise are increasingly recognized health problems. Objectives : The objective was to assess whether the exposure-response relationship can be established between exposures to non-occupational noise and permanent hearing outcomes such as permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Methods: Information sources : Computer searches of all accessible medical and other databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were performed and complemented with manual searches. The search was not limited to a particular time span, except for the effects of personal listening devices (PLDs). The latter was limited to the years 2008–June 2015, since previous knowledge was summarized by SCENIHR descriptive systematic review published in 2008. Study eligibility criteria: The inclusion criteria were as follows: the exposure to noise was measured in sound pressure levels (SPLs) and expressed in individual equivalent decibel values (L EX,8h ), the studies included both exposed and reference groups, the outcome was a permanent health effect, i.e., permanent hearing loss assessed with pure-tone audiometry and/or permanent tinnitus assessed with a questionnaire. The eligibility criteria were evaluated by two independent reviewers. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: The risk of bias was assessed for all of the papers using a template for assessment of quality and the risk of bias. The GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation) approach was used to assess the overall quality of evidence. Meta-analysis was not possible due to methodological heterogeneity of included studies and the inadequacy of data. Results: Out of 220 references identified, five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All of them were related to the use of PLDs and comprised in total of 1551 teenagers and young adults. Three studies used hearing loss as the outcome and three tinnitus. There was a positive correlation between noise level and hearing loss either at standard or extended high frequencies in all three of the studies on hearing loss. In one study, there was also a positive correlation between the duration of PLD use and hearing loss. There was no association between prolonged listening to loud music through PLDs and tinnitus or the results were contradictory. All of the evidence was of low quality. Limitations: The studies are cross-sectional. No study provides odds ratios of hearing loss by the level of exposure to noise. Conclusions: While using very strict inclusion criteria, there is low quality GRADE evidence that prolonged listening to loud music through PLDs increases the risk of hearing loss and results in worsening standard frequency audiometric thresholds. However, specific threshold analyses focused on stratifying risk according to clearly defined levels of exposure are missing. Future studies are needed to provide actionable guidance for PLDs users. No studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria related to other isolated or combined exposures to environmental noise were identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariola Śliwińska-Kowalska & Kamil Zaborowski, 2017. "WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Permanent Hearing Loss and Tinnitus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1139-:d:113385
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vogel, L. & Verschuure, H. & Van Der Ploeg, C.P.B. & Brug, J. & Raat, H., 2010. "Estimating adolescent risk for hearing loss based on data from a large school-based survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(6), pages 1095-1100.
    2. Kathleen Hutchinson Marron & Brittany Sproat & Danielle Ross & Sarah Wagner & Helaine Alessio, 2014. "Music Listening Behavior, Health, Hearing and Otoacoustic Emission Levels," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Irene van Kamp & Sendrick Simon & Hilary Notley & Christos Baliatsas & Elise van Kempen, 2020. "Evidence Relating to Environmental Noise Exposure and Annoyance, Sleep Disturbance, Cardio-Vascular and Metabolic Health Outcomes in the Context of IGCB (N): A Scoping Review of New Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Jing Ma & Chunjiang Li & Mei-Po Kwan & Yanwei Chai, 2018. "A Multilevel Analysis of Perceived Noise Pollution, Geographic Contexts and Mental Health in Beijing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Janice Hegewald & Melanie Schubert & Matthias Lochmann & Andreas Seidler, 2021. "The Burden of Disease Due to Road Traffic Noise in Hesse, Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Tommy Langen & Vimala Nunavath & Ole Henrik Dahle, 2021. "A Conceptual Framework Proposal for a Noise Modelling Service for Drones in U-Space Architecture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Elisa Bustaffa & Olivia Curzio & Gabriele Donzelli & Francesca Gorini & Nunzia Linzalone & Marco Redini & Fabrizio Bianchi & Fabrizio Minichilli, 2022. "Risk Associations between Vehicular Traffic Noise Exposure and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Residential Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Erin C. Williams & Yiran Ma & Daniela M. Loo & Natasha Schaefer Solle & Barbara Millet & Kristine Harris & Hillary A. Snapp & Suhrud M. Rajguru, 2023. "Monitoring Occupational Noise Exposure in Firefighters Using the Apple Watch," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Myriam Tobollik & Matthias Hintzsche & Jördis Wothge & Thomas Myck & Dietrich Plass, 2019. "Burden of Disease Due to Traffic Noise in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, June.
    8. Michaela Škerková & Martina Kovalová & Eva Mrázková, 2021. "High-Frequency Audiometry for Early Detection of Hearing Loss: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, April.
    9. Owen Douglas & Enda Murphy, 2020. "Assessing the Treatment of Potential Effect Modifiers Informing World Health Organisation Guidelines for Environmental Noise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-17, January.
    10. Davide Petri & Gaetano Licitra & Maria Angela Vigotti & Luca Fredianelli, 2021. "Effects of Exposure to Road, Railway, Airport and Recreational Noise on Blood Pressure and Hypertension," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Arianna Di Stadio & Laura Dipietro & Giampietro Ricci & Antonio Della Volpe & Antonio Minni & Antonio Greco & Marco De Vincentiis & Massimo Ralli, 2018. "Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Diplacusis in Professional Musicians: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, September.
    12. Fabrizio Minichilli & Francesca Gorini & Elena Ascari & Fabrizio Bianchi & Alessio Coi & Luca Fredianelli & Gaetano Licitra & Federica Manzoli & Lorena Mezzasalma & Liliana Cori, 2018. "Annoyance Judgment and Measurements of Environmental Noise: A Focus on Italian Secondary Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Yueming Wen & Jiawei Leng & Xiaobing Shen & Gang Han & Lijun Sun & Fei Yu, 2020. "Environmental and Health Effects of Ventilation in Subway Stations: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-37, February.
    14. Ferran Orga & Francesc Alías & Rosa Ma Alsina-Pagès, 2017. "On the Impact of Anomalous Noise Events on Road Traffic Noise Mapping in Urban and Suburban Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    15. Hanns Moshammer & Julian Panholzer & Lisa Ulbing & Emanuel Udvarhelyi & Barbara Ebenbauer & Stefanie Peter, 2019. "Acute Effects of Air Pollution and Noise from Road Traffic in a Panel of Young Healthy Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, March.
    16. Francesco Aletta & Tin Oberman & Jian Kang, 2018. "Associations between Positive Health-Related Effects and Soundscapes Perceptual Constructs: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, October.

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