Constant exposure to noise at work not only affects concentration and causes hearing problems such as tinnitus, but also contributes to increased stress and high blood pressure.
On the effects of high noise levels, researchers conducted a study in garment factories in Bangladesh and found that 3 in 10 workers assessed had high blood pressure, a condition estimated to affect around 1 billion people and contribute to premature deaths linked to diseases such as obesity, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
“Although the exact mechanism is not well understood, it is thought that the body’s stress response to chronic noise exposure causes hormonal imbalances that gradually lead to persistent high blood pressure,” said Golam Dastagir Prince of the Bangladesh Directorate of Public Health. The study found that half of the other workers had “prehypertension.” The researchers took into account other factors that might contribute to the findings, such as weight and smoking.
The workers in the study were exposed for nearly 16 years to noise levels ranging from 96 to 111 decibels on the job, exceeding the recommended maximum of 85 decibels for an eight-hour shift. Prince said that because the study focused on workers exposed to more than 85 decibels of noise for long periods, any occupation involving similar exposure could have similar effects on blood pressure. He added that the findings, presented at a conference in India sponsored by the American College of Cardiology, underscore the need for workers to wear appropriate protective equipment.