Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #100844

Marissa A. Barrera, MS¹, Robyn R.M. Gershon, MHS DrPH¹, and Muhammad Akram, PhD². (1) Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 600 West 168 street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10032, 212 305-2138, mb2054@columbia.edu, (2) Environmental Health and Safety, Columbia University, 630 W 168th Street, Mailbox #8, New York, NY 10032

Purpose/Problem: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), the single most common occupational health problem in industrial societies, is prevalent in heavy machinery, transportation, textiles, utilities, chemicals, fabricated metals, lumber, rubber and coal industries. In particular, the issue of noise related to mass transportation is of interest for two reasons; first, excessive noise levels have been documented for subway systems, and, second, the population at potential risk is large. In the U.S., there are 14 Mass Transit Systems, with over 350,000 subway workers, providing service to over 33 million riders weekly. As part of a large subway noise assessment study, we recently conducted a pilot study on noise levels in a large metropolitan subway.

Methods: Using a digital sound level meter, levels were measured as follows: at platform level with (1) subway trains approaching the station, (2) subway trains leaving the station and, (3) express trains passing. Measurements were also taken inside subway cars while trains were approaching a station and when express trains were passing.

Results: Noise levels ranging from 56 to 97dB were noted, with the highest levels associated with impulse noises which occurred when trains braked as they entered stations. The length of time per noise exposure ranged from 23-49 seconds with a mean of 33.81 seconds.

Conclusion: These data indicate that exposure to excessive levels of noise may occur in the subway environment. The impact of subway noise exposure on NIHL and prevalence of NIHL in both workers and passengers remains to be determined.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify four industries which may present a risk for excessive noise exposure.
• 2. Identify the subway-related conditions that present the greatest risk of excessively high noise levels.
• 3. List the strategies that have been used in subway systems to reduce noise.

Keywords: Occupational Safety, Hearing Protection

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.