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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on November 3, 2009
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp167
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Cigarette smoking and occupational noise-induced hearing loss

Saber Mohammadi1, Mohammad Mahdi Mazhari2, Amir Houshang Mehrparvar3 and Mir Saeed Attarchi1

1 Iran University of Medical Sciences and Occupational Medicine Research Center, Tehran, Iran
2 Aviation Medicine Center of Sepah's Air Force, Tehran, Iran
3 Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Correspondence: Mir Saeed Attarchi, Occupational Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, tel: +98 021 88602227, e-mail: drmsattarchi{at}gmail.com

Received March 16, 2009 , accepted September 22, 2009

Background: Noise is the most common occupational hazard. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a known occupational disease. The economic costs of NIHL have been estimated to be billions of dollars. Besides, cigarette smoking is a common habit worldwide. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed the effect of smoking on NIHL in 504 workers in a large wagon manufacturing company exposed to noise >85 dBA. All required data were obtained using direct interview and questionnaires. To determine noise exposure level, we used industrial hygienist's reports of sound level measurements. A qualified audiologist assessed hearing status using standardized audiometric examination. Results: We concluded that the frequency of hearing loss in smokers was higher than non-smokers [based on Model 1: odds ratio (OR) = 9.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.74–15.22 and P-value < 0.001; and based on Model 2: OR = 9.06, 95% CI = 5.93–13.84 and P-value < 0.001]. Besides, these results were confirmed by logistic regression statistical method. Conclusions: It can be concluded that smoking may accelerate NIHL, but for confirming this opinion, further studies are warranted.

Keywords: hearing loss, noise, occupational exposure, smoking.


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