For some vocations, exposure to smoke is known to pose an occupational risk, especially in terms of hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, and diminished attention. According to a recent study that was presented at the ACC Asia 2024 conference, adult power loom weavers who were exposed to chronic noise had higher blood pressure overall and a 10% increased risk of high blood pressure for every year they were exposed.
According to Golam Dastageer Prince, MBBS, MPH, medical officer at DGHS Bangladesh and the study’s lead author, “the stress response by the body to chronic sound exposure causes hormonal imbalances that gradually leads to a permanent elevation of blood pressure, though the mechanism is still not well-explored.” “Almost one in five people in the globe have high blood pressure under control, despite the fact that it affects over a billion people globally and is a major cause of premature mortality. If we wish to lower the cardiovascular risk of these patients, we must discover strategies to decrease the noise exposure in addition to treating the high blood pressure with the proper measures.”
From January to December 2023, 289 adult workers in a few chosen weaving facilities in the Araihazar sub-district of Narayanganj, Bangladesh, were examined by researchers from the Directorate of General Health Services in Bangladesh. During a face-to-face interview, participants answered questions about behavior, nutritional preferences, family medical history, and sociodemographic characteristics. The researchers used normal protocols to monitor blood pressure, height, weight, and noise intensity.
The study sample consisted primarily of married men who were, on average, 34 years old. The researchers found that a sizable section of the group lacked literacy. The average length of time spent at work was close to 16 years, and the noise level varied from 96 to 111 dB. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the United States has determined that an eight-hour workday should not exceed the recommended exposure limits for occupational noise exposures of 85 dB on average. In general, sounds that are 70 dB or lower are regarded as safe.
Prince claims that no ear protection or personal protective equipment was discovered to be worn by any of the study participants.
“Hopefully we can raise awareness of not only noise-induced hearing loss, but the impact of noise on blood pressure and workers’ behaviors and attitudes towards using personal protective equipment,” Prince stated. “Pushing for structural improvements to industries may also help us improve the health safety of these workers.”
53.3% of the study population was prehypertensive, and 31.5% of them had high blood pressure. Additionally, the length of noise exposure and blood pressure were found to positively correlate in the study. The odds of having high blood pressure were shown to rise by 10% for every year of exposure, even after controlling for age, body mass index, and smoking status.
“As the study focused on workers exposed to more than 85 decibels noise for long periods of time, any profession causing workers to experience similar exposure might experience similar blood pressure impacts,” Prince stated. “We definitely need more exploratory studies to reveal more information about the potential mechanisms and long-term health outcomes.”
Living close to sources of noise pollution such as trains, automobiles, and aircraft has been linked to negative effects on cardiovascular health, according to recent research. Nevertheless, the noise encountered in daily life might not be covered by the current study. According to Prince, noise pollution at home usually ebbs and flows, whereas industrial exposures in the study usually follow a continuous pattern because of the machinery and maintain a steady sound level.
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