Lipid disturbances at workers professionally exposed to industrial noise

Abstract

Industrial noise can damage the hearing organ, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, peripheral and central nervous system of exposed workers. The atherogenic risk at workers professionally exposed to noise was assessed by measuring total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and calculating the ratio: T-C/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C. The exposed group consisted of 150 workers professionally exposed to noise intensity of 70’110 dB. The results were compared to a control group of 80 workers working in relatively silent environment. Serum lipid parameters were examined by standard methods. All lipid parameters in exposed group were statistically different compared to the control group. All calculated atherogenic ratios were higher for workers in exposed group than the control group. Atherogenic risk raises by the length of exposition to the noise and by the intensity of noise. The most atherogenic risk is presented at workers exposed to noise over the 90 dB intensity.