Ototoxicity among Fiocruz workers, 2015-2024: descriptive study

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure can lead to various health issues for workers, including hearing impairments. These alterations can be caused by physical agents (such as vibration, heat, and noise) and chemical agents that affect the auditory system. OBJECTIVE
To conduct a descriptive study on occupational exposure to physical and/or chemical agents and its impact on hearing loss among workers at Fiocruz. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study based on medical records of Fiocruz workers treated at the audiology outpatient clinic of Cesteh/ENSP/Fiocruz, which formed a database. This first stage of the study organizes the medical record data into a database and descriptively tabulates demographic data, types of exposures, and reported health effects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION A total of 183 medical records of workers were analyzed, with a predominance in the age group between 50 and 59 years (35%), and 52% were male. Occupational exposures were distributed as follows: 27% reported combined exposure; 36% to chemical substances; and 37% to noise. Regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), only 33% reported using it, while 63% declared they did not.
Among the chemical agents reported were: toxic gases (2%), solvents (22%), and other substances (76%). Concerning hearing loss, normal hearing was identified in 33% of the cases. A total of 67% showed hearing loss, with 76% of the cases affecting the left ear and 15% the right ear. Reversible hearing loss was found in 5%, irreversible in 91%, and both reversible and irreversible in 4%. The data suggest an association between occupational exposure and hearing loss, reinforcing the need for further studies and more in-depth statistical analysis.