Epidemiologic Notes and Reports
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Fire Fighters -- New York
In October 1980, the International Association of Fire Fighters
asked the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) to evaluate reported hearing loss from noise exposure in
fire-fighting operations at the Newburgh Fire Department, Newburgh,
New York. Audiometric evaluation of 53 of the 55 full-time fire
fighters by an outside consultant had detected hearing losses.
In February 1981, NIOSH surveyed noise exposures of the fire
asked the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) to evaluate reported hearing loss from noise exposure in
fire-fighting operations at the Newburgh Fire Department, Newburgh,
New York. Audiometric evaluation of 53 of the 55 full-time fire
fighters by an outside consultant had detected hearing losses.
In February 1981, NIOSH surveyed noise exposures of the fire
fighters at this department (1). Noise levels emitted by sirens
and
fire engines during simulated response calls ranged from 99 dBA* to
116 dBA at various riding positions on the vehicles; measurements
were
obtained by using a General Radio 1982 sound level meter.** These
were later taped and analyzed. The 8-hour time-weighted average
(TWA)
noise exposures of 16 fire fighters during their regular activities
over a 2-day period ranged from 62.8 dBA to 85.3 dBA;*** these
noise
measurements were obtained by using Metrosonics dB-301/562
Metrologger
dosimeters.
In June 1981, using Gradson-Stadler 1703 B self-recording
audiometers, NIOSH conducted audiometric evaluations of 54 of these
fire fighters. An average hearing loss of 61.8 decibels at 6000 Hz
was found for the five fire fighters over 50 years of age, each of
whom had nearly 30 years of service. Non-occupational causes of
high-frequency hearing loss were not identified.
*Decibels measured on the A-weighting scale.
**Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply
endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control or the Public Health
Service.
***NIOSH currently recommends a maximum 85 dBA level for an 8-hour
TWA
noise exposure.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: The NIOSH evaluation verified the high-frequency
hearing losses reported in the initial audiometric evaluation of
these
fire fighters. The NIOSH environmental survey, in which personal
noise dosimeters were used, was conducted on 2 days when no fires
and
two false alarms occurred; however, simulated runs were made to
study
the noise intensities normally encountered on the fire vehicles.
On
the basis of the limited noise survey and the 5-year average number
of
fire calls in a 40-hour workweek, these fire fighters would average
less than 1.5 hours per week of exposure to noise in the range of
99
dBA to 116 dBA. Based on an extension of the Occupational Safety
and
Health Administration 8-hour TWA noise exposure limit of 90 dBA to
a
24-hour TWA of 82 dBA, only two of the 16 fire fighters' 8-hour TWA
exposures exceeded the 24-hour exposure limit. Even though the TWA
noise exposures do not seem great enough to cause the observed
hearing
losses, the noise intensities during the simulated and false-alarm
runs were high. Noise was not measured during actual fire
fighting,
but the audiograms point to noise overexposure.
A similar study of hearing loss in fire fighters, conducted at
the
Los Angeles City Fire Department (2,3), produced results comparable
to
those of the NIOSH study. The noise levels reported in Los Angeles
were more intense than those found in Newburgh; differences in the
measurement techniques used in the two surveys may account for
these
discrepancies. Additional studies are planned.
References
Tubbs R, Flesch J. Health hazard evaluation--Newburgh, New
York.
(HETA report no. 81-059-1045). Cincinnati, Ohio: National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1982.
Reischl U, Hanks TG, Reischl P. Occupational related fire
fighter
hearing loss. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1981;42:656--62.
Reischl U, Bair HS Jr, Reischl P. Fire fighter noise exposure.
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1979;40:482-9.
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