hazards & safety
TRANSCRIPT
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 1
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 1
Lesson 16A. Radiation
Hazards &
Safety
L.B. Sandy Rock, MD, MPHL.B. Sandy Rock, MD, MPH
Science DivisionScience Division
BCCBCC
February 24, 2005February 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 2
Radiation Hazards and Safety
Radiation has been around since the beginning of time. All plantsand animals are continuously bombarded by radiation.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 3
Wilhelm C. Roentgen(1845-1923)
Worked with“Crookes” tubes inlate 1895.
Crookes tubes areevacuated glasstubes with high DCvoltage appliedacross them.
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 2
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 4
Discovering X-RaysRoentgen discoversthat a piece ofpaper coated withbarium platino-cyanide glowsseveral centi-meters away fromthe covered tube.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 5
X-Ray PhotographyRoentgen noticesthat; “if the handbe held before thefluorescentscreen, the bonesshow darkly, withonly faint outlinesof surroundingtissues.”
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 6
Early Radiation Injury
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 3
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 7
Ionizingradiations aregenerated byinteractionsoccurring withinthe atom.
Radiation means matter or energy moving outward
from a point of origin.
Radiation
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 8
Ionizing
Radiation
Electron
Ionizing Radiation
Ionizingradiationhas enoughenergy toremoveelectronsfrom atoms.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 9
Ionizing Radiation
Atoms emit ionizing radiation to reduce excessenergy and attempt to achieve stability.
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 4
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 10
X-ray results
from electron
energy
changes
alpha, neutron,
beta, and gamma
come from the
nucleus
alpha
neutron
beta
X-ray and gamma
are identical
except for origin
Types of Ionizing Radiation.
Five basic types ofionizing radiation
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 11
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Gamma rays andx-rays are formsof energy, similarto visible light andradio, but muchmore energetic.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 12
Radiation Jargon
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 5
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 13
Could be
partial or
whole body.
Usually
much
greater at
entrance
than exit.
May come from
inhalation,
ingestion, injec-
tion, absorption,
or injury
Often
concentrates
in particular
organs.
Radiation Hazards
EXTERNAL versus INTERNAL RADIATION HAZARDS
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 14
Fate of Early Radiologists
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 15
Radiologist Fingers
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 6
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 16
Availability and use of radioactive materials“exploded” after World War II.
Radioactive Materials
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 17Natural Background Radiation[about 3 mSv (300 mrem) per year]
Background Radiation
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 18
Annual Radiation Dose Limits
Occupational0.05 Sv (5 rem or 5000 mrem) whole body
no individual organ dosegreater than 0.5 Sv (50 rem)
Skin and extremities = 0.5 Sv (50 rem)
Exception: Lens of eye = 0.15 Sv (15 rem)
Embryo/Fetus (of radiation worker)5 mSv (0.5 rem)
General Public1 mSv (0.1 rem)
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 7
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 19
Radiation Health EffectsHigh-level radiation effects are acuteeffects which are manifested shortly after(hours, days, weeks) a large exposure(1 Sv or 100 rem+).
Low-level radiation effects are describedas either:
latent effects, appearing many years after a“non-lethal” acute dose, or as
chronic effects after many years of smalldoses (like radiation workers).
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 20
Radiation Effects
Acute/High Level Radiation Effects in HumansRadiation Burns (over 2 Sv or 200 rem) – local or whole body
Keloids – Thick scars in healed burns
Cataracts (over 1.5 Sv or 150 rem)
Whole Body Bone Marrow Injury (over 1 Sv or 100 rem)– maycause death if injury is severe.
GI Tract Injury (over 6 Sv or 600 rem) – causes death in daysor weeks.
Central Nervous System Injury (over 50 Sv or 5000 rem) –causes death in hours or days.
Other?
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 21
Radiation EffectsTypes of Low Level Radiation InducedHealth Effects:
Genetic mutations – probably takes 1 Sv (100rem) to double mutation rate in man.
Abnormalities induced in an exposed fetus –about 4% chance of occurrence per 0.1 Sv (10rem)
Cancer in the exposed individual – about 0.8%lifetime chance of death after 0.1 Sv (10 rem)acute exposure. Less for chronic exposures.Background rate of cancer death is about 20%
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 8
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 22
Radiation ProtectionRadiation Protectionputs many scientificprinciples andtechniques intopractice.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 23
RADIOACTIVE DECAY
Radiation Protection for BothInternal and External Sources
Radiation Protection
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 24
Radioactive Decay
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 9
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 25
SubstitutionFossil fuel plants can replace nuclearpower plants.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging can replacex-ray imaging in a few situations.
Fluorescent markers can replaceradionuclides in some lab tests.
Downside – Cost, other hazards?
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 26
Treatment?Not an option. Attempts have been madeto “irradiate” radioactive materials toturn them into different radioisotopeswith shorter half-life.
Success is poor, and by-products areproduced with long half-lives.
If someone suggests that you invest in aradioisotope treatment scheme – save yourmoney!
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 27
Radioactive materials have historically been put intoisolation and burial sites – with arguable success.
Isolation/Burial
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 10
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 28
Change in Radiation Intensitywith Distance
Inverse Square Law:1/r2 relationship
For example;doubling yourdistance cutsexposure to 1/4,and triplingdistance cutsexposure to 1/9.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 29
Penetration Ability
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 30
Ways to Reduce External Exposure
TimeReducing the amount of time around aradiation source directly reduces radiationexposure.
DistanceDistance reduces exposure by 1/r2 for x-rayand gamma radiation
Distance in air stops alpha and beta particles.
ShieldingShielding stops alpha and beta particles andgreatly reduces x-ray and gamma radiation.
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 11
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 31
Methods to Reduce Internal IntakeContainment and/or exhaust(fume hoods in labs).
Contamination surveys.
Good hygiene - washing hands,contaminated skin, and contaminatedarticles.
Good personal habits – no hand toface/mouth contact, no eating/drinking,no application of cosmetics.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 32
Methods to Reduce Internal IntakeContinued
Use of protective clothing andpersonal protective equipment.
General Protective Measures:Knowledge of hazards.
Area Control: signage, records, andsecurity.
Appropriate facilities and equipmentfor use and control of radioactivematerials.
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 33
Medicine
Radiation in the Workplace
Research
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 12
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 34
Static Control
Measurement and
Quality Control
Radiation in the WorkplaceContinued
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 35
Biomedical/Industrialwastes or byproducts
Lost Sources
Man-Made Radiationin the Environment
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 36
Man-Made Radiationin the Environment Continued
Active Production orProcessing Sites
Closed/Abandoned
Production or
Processing Sites
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 13
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 37
Dirty Bombs?
RadiologicalDispersalDevices
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 38
Lesson 16B. Noise
Hearing LossPrevention
L.B. Sandy Rock, MD, MPHL.B. Sandy Rock, MD, MPH
Science DivisionScience Division
BCCBCC
February 24, 2005February 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 39
Lesson 15. Noise
Hearing LossPrevention
L.B. Sandy Rock, MD, MPHScience Division
BCC
February 24, 2004February 24, 2004
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 14
Hearing Loss
OW!
NOISE
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 41
OverviewWhat we’ll be covering today:
Noise, hearing and hearing loss
Occupational noiseHow to measure it
How much is too much?
Hearing loss preventionControls
Hearing protectors
Non-occupational noise
Community noise
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 42
The ProblemWhy noise doesn’t getmuch attention:
Lots of dangerousjobs in US
Acute hazards arepriority
Chronic hazardseasier toignore...
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 15
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 43
NoiseWhat the heck is noise, anyway?
Is it…
Neighbor’s dog barking at 2AM?
Airliners flying over your house?
Classmate snoring next to you?
YES! It’s all this and more!
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 44
Noise Continued
Unwanted sound (vibrations in air)
Measured by: sound pressure (loudness)decibels (dB)
And: frequency (pitch)
hertz (Hz) - vibrations per second
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 45
Why Decibels?
Human ear:extremely largerange of soundpressure sensitivity
Convenient toconvert linear scale(sound pressure, Pa)to log scale (soundpressure level, dB)
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 16
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 46
The Decibel Scale
2X
4X
8X
16X
85 dBA 87 dBA 90 dBA 93 dBA 96 dBA
Decibels
The decibel: funky, but useful
100 dB=10x90 dB, 100x80 dBLike earthquakes,
non-linear...
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 47
Don’t add arithmetically ...
Addition of Decibels
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 48
Noise Levels
Noise
Levels of
some
familiar
sounds
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 17
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 49
-50
-45
-40-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10-5
0
5
10 100 1000 10000 100000
Frequency (Hz)
Re
lati
ve
Re
sp
on
se
(d
B)
Sensitivity of human ear
Frequency is Important, Too ...
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 50
How We Hear
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 51
Types of Hearing DamageConductive(outer or middle ear)
Sometimes reversible
Acoustic trauma,accident, etc
Sensorineural(inner ear)
Damage to nerves;irreversible
Includes NIHL, presbycusis
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 18
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 52
Types of Hearing DamageAlso:
Temporary ThresholdShift
Permanent ThresholdShift
Tinnitus(more on this later)
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 53
How is Hearing Tested?
Sound-treated booth
Tympanometry
Standard audiometryPure tone air conduction
Pure tone bone conduction
5 dB steps
Other (newer) testsavailable, as well
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 54
How We Measure Hearing
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 19
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 55
Hearing loss is frequency-specific
Certain frequencies are considered indicative of NIHL
Hearing Loss
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 56
Age-related Hearing Loss
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
500 1000 2000 3000 4000 6000
Frequency (Hz)
He
ari
ng
Th
res
ho
ld L
ev
el
(dB
)
Age 40 Age 50 Age 60
Even by age 60, the average person doesn’t havehearing impairment from age alone
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 57
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
500 1000 2000 3000 4000 6000
Frequency (Hz)
He
ari
ng
Th
res
ho
ld L
ev
el
(dB
)
No Noise 90 dBA 95 dBA 100 dBA
Noise-induced loss additive to age-related loss
Enter age correction…
Hearing Loss vs. Noise
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 20
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 58
Effects of NIHL
NIHL affects highfrequency hearing first
NIHL makes it harder tocommunicate:
On the job
In situations w/background noise(jobsite, restaurant)
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 59
Effects of NIHL
NIHL may affectability to work
NIHL can make itdifficult to hearcritical warnings:
Back-up alarms
Traffic on a street
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 60
Effects of NIHL
NIHL can:
Contribute to accidents,injuries
Lower self-esteem
Make people moredependent on others
Damage relationswith friends, family
Make it hard toconcentrate...
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 21
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 61
Other Effects of Noise
• Dilation on the pupil• Secretion of thyroid hormone• Heart palpitations• Secretion of adrenalin• Secretion of adrenalin cortex
hormone• Movement of the stomach
and intestines• Muscle reaction• Constriction of blood vessels
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 62EPA (1981)
Who do YOU think might be exposed to too much noise?
Noise Exposure Estimates
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 63
Economic Sector
Total no.
production
workers
No. noise-
exposed
% noise-
exposed
Tobacco products 106,399 57,764 54.3
Primary metals 824,725 269,270 32.7
Paper and allied products 488,101 164,808 33.8
Textile mill products 615,322 262,108 42.6
Lumber and wood products 475,730 196,489 41.3
Transportation by air 312,931 94,656 30.3
Fabricated metal products 1,151,777 336,919 29.3
Furniture and fixtures 428,539 121,271 28.3
Hvy construction (not bldg) 517,969 124,610 24
Oil and gas extraction 330,841 76,525 23.1
Source: NIOSH, 1998
Top 10 SICs
by % workers >85 dBA
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 22
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 64
Other things that canDamage Hearing
Ototoxic substances:Aminoglycoside antibiotics, chemotherapy
Some metals (lead, arsenic, tin)
Solvents (toluene, benzene, styrene)
Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide
Cigarette smoke (duh)
Even aspirin!
Hand-arm andwhole-body vibration
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 65
Other Developmentsin Hearing
Hearing aids: friend or foe?
Outer and inner hair cellregeneration
Birds do it - why can’t we?
OtoprotectantsA “morning after” pill?
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 66
Claims accepted for hearing-related conditions (Washington State, 1984-1998)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998
Year claim was filed
Nu
mb
er
of
ac
ce
pte
d c
laim
s Self Insured
Department of Energy
State Fund
1998 cost: $57 mil
All Industries
Hearing Loss Claims in WA
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 23
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 67
NIHL ClaimsHow much is your hearing worth in WA?
WA doesn’t allow age-correction for claims$10K maximum PPD payment for loss in 1 ear
$65K maximum PPD for both ears
Differences in compensation for variousoccupations
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 68
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
So
un
d L
evel, d
BA
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
So
un
d L
evel, d
BA
Continuous
Noise Exposure Types
Intermittent
General scientific consensus on effects on hearing
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 69
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
6:00 7:30 9:00 10:30 12:00 13:30 15:00 16:30
So
un
d L
evel, d
BA
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
So
un
d L
evel, d
BA
Impact/Impulse
Noise Exposure Types
Combination
No scientific consensus on effects on hearing
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 24
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 70
Ways to Measure NoiseSound Level Meter
Area/personal measurements, point-in- timelevels
Cheap, easy, good for continuous noise,immediate HPD needs
DosimeterArea/personal measurements
Point-in-time or average level,continuous or variable noise
Expensive, but low labor
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 71
1936: Walsh-Healey Act
1968: ACGIH TLV
1971: OSHA PEL
1971: EPA ONAC
1974: NIOSH REL
1981: No more EPA ONAC
1983: OSHA Hearing Conservation Amendment
1990s: revised ACGIH TLV, NIOSH REL, MSHA PEL
Measure
noise…
or else!!
US Noise Standards
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 72
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
85 90 95 100 105 110 115
Noise Level, dBA
Allo
wab
le E
xp
osu
re, H
rs
NIOSH OSHA
Noise StandardsOSHA vs. NIOSH
Assumes worker using no
hearing protection
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 25
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 73
NOES (1983) national findings:
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Audiometry Monitoring Hearing
Protection
Perc
en
t o
f C
om
pan
ies C
om
ply
ing
Small
Medium
Large
Hearing Conservationin Industry
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 74
OSHA Citations & FinesOct 1999 - Sept 2000
692 OSHA inspections, 1475 citations fornoise exposure
Manufacturing sector got 1284 of thesecitations, $725,000 in fines
$725,000÷1284=$565 per citation
Cheaper to ignore HL than address it?No; fines don’t account for workersuffering, claims costs, etc
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 75
On to Hearing Loss Prevention!Goal: reduce or eliminate noise exposure
What’s in a Hearing Loss Prevention Program?Noise exposure monitoring
Controlling/reducing noise exposures
Hearing protector selection, fitting and use
Audiometric testing
Employee education & training
Program evaluation
Protects: Employer from claims, employee from NIHL
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 26
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 76
Ways Exposures Can Be Reduced
With noise, we usually start at the bottom...
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 77
There are several ways to stop noise – or even
selectively let desired sounds through
Noise ControlWith controls, think of possible noise paths
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 78
The Problem withNoise Controls
Engineers will tell you that there’s no way a non-engineer could possibly develop or implement aneffective noise control
Solution: avoid engineers at all costs!
Controls CAN be developed, but they do requireeffort and resources, and (sometimes) technicalknowledge
Noise control development support critical
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 27
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 79
We used to have this support!
US EPA Office of Noise Abatementand Control, 1972-82
Developed noise standards, researched noisecontrols, promoted Buy Quiet programs
Bill before congress every year to re-fund
Europe committed in 2000
Noise levels specified for various equipment
Controls mandatory
Will make 50% of current constructionequipment ineligible for EU sale in 2006
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 80
To Prevent Hearing LossEmploy the EngineeringControl Strategies:
Substitution
Treatment
Isolation
Shielding
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 81
SubstitutionEliminate noise oruse quieter sources
Don’t use this …
When these will do!
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 28
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 82
TreatmentActive noise control (ANC)
Not good for everything, but prettydarn cool!
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 83
IsolationEnclose the noisesource behind abarrier
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 84
Barriers
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 29
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 85
Inverse Square Law
Use distance as a barrierDistance/location: your friend for noise
Sources away from reflective surfaces, workers
2x source-worker distance = 6 dB less
Move out of corner = 6 dB less
Move from 1 reflective surface = 3 dB less
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 86
Shielding
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 87
ShieldingHearing ProtectionDevices (HPDs):
4 C’s:Comfort
Convenience
Communications
Cost
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 30
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 88
Don’t overprotect (w/ high NRR)!
HPD IssuesWorkers MUST havetraining, selection
Most earplugs alter quality ofsound at different frequencies
Exception: flat response
Speak up - don’t mumble
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 89
Noise Reduction RatingSummary of HPD attenuation across various testfrequencies achieved by test subjects
Required by EPA regulation to appear on all HPDssold in US
Includes mean attenuation and variability data
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 90
Administrative ControlsSchedule noise forfewest workers
Maintain/repair/lube equipment
Rotation/break/limit time
Signs
No Walkmanheadphones!
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 31
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 91
Administrative ControlsEstablish andlabel highnoise zones,require HPDuse
Noise map: agood excuseto usecrayons
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 92
SignsSome signs are better than others...
BAD
BETTER
GOOD
Administrative Controls
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 93
Effectiveness
NRRs
in the
lab
versus
the
field
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 32
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 94
Shielding
When to Wear HearingProtection
Whenever exposure likely toexceed 85 dBA - at workOR home
When using loud equipmentWhen working in areas whereloud equipment is being used
When you have to shout to beheard by someone 3 ft away
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 95
But How Often are HPDs Used?
Different people have different patterns of use ofpersonal protective equipment like HPDs…
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 96
Protection Reduced if HPD
Not Used…The more time an HPDisn’t worn duringnoise exposure, theless it reduces theaverage exposurelevel
If it’s worn less than50% of exposure time,might as well not wearit at all
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 33
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 97
Audiometric TestingPre- and post-employmentand annually best
but occasionally is betterthan never!
Best opportunity foreducation about NIHL,need for protection
If this is only HLPP effort:Hearing loss documentation
NIHL now must bereported to OSHA
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 98
EducationEmployees need motivation and training
Annually, or evenbetter, deliveredregularly in smallchunks
Needs to coverbasics:-Noise levels-Noise controls-Hearing loss-Audiometry-HPD use/care
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 99
HLPP Program EvaluationAs with all programs, HLPPmust be evaluated on anongoing basis
May not like what you see…But that’s all the more reason todo evaluation and instituteimprovements where necessary
Look for:NIHL rates, number workersexposed above 85 dBA, averageexposure levels, HPD use, etc
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 34
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 100
Non-Occupational NoiseEmployers interested in non-occupational exposure
Lots of sensational mediareporting
Little evidence of non-occupational NIHL
If high occupationalexposure, non-occu-pational noiseinsignificant
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 101
Non-Occupational Noise
Hearing can be damaged by non-occupational activities, ofcourse… For example:
Shooting (especially without HPDs)
Active duty/Guard military service
Excessive exposure to noisynon-occupational activities
Ototoxic exposures
Best way to preventnon-occupational NIHL?
Education received as part of HLPP
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 102
Community NoiseNoise is consistentlyrated among the mostannoying communityissues in the US
Lots of sources… Cananyone think of any?
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 35
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 103
Community Noise
Approaches used to control occupational noiseexposure also work for community noise
One difference:With occupational noise, we want to prevent NIHL
With community noise, want to prevent NIHL, healtheffects, AND annoyance
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 104
Recommended Exposure Levels
Effect Threshold
Effect Situation Metric Level (dBA)
Any Hearing
Impairment
Occup
Environ
8-hr average
24-hr average
75
70
Hypertension Occup
Environ
8-hr average
Day-Night average
<85
70
Ischemic heart disease Environ Day-Night average 70
Annoyance Occup
Environ
8-hr avg
Day-Night average
<85
42
Performance School Day average 70
Sleep disturbance
Sleep pattern
Sleep quality
Mood next day
Sleep
Sleep
Sleep
Night average
Night average
Night average
<60
40
<60
Adapted from Passchier -Vermeer, EHP 2000
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 105
ConclusionPreventing Hearing Loss
Hearing loss = Safety hazard, social isolationCannot be reversed with hearing aids, surgery, etc.
About 10 million US workers have NIHL
HLPPs (and especially noise controls) are bestprotection from NIHL
Hearing loss NOT necessary for growing old
Noise can be confusing, but there’s a solutionto any exposure problem…
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 36
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 106
Questions
??
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 107
Next Lesson
IonizingIonizingRadiationRadiation
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 108
Questions
Lesson 16: Radiation January 24, 2005
ENVIR 202: Population & Health 37
ENVIR 202: Lesson 16 109
Next Lesson
HumanHumanSettlement &Settlement &
HealthHealth