비디오테이프 제조공장에서 혼합유기용제의 폭로가 청력에 미치는 영향을 보기 위해 톨루엔, 메틸에틸케톤, 메틸이소부틸케톤에 폭로된 근로자 51명과 대조군 57명 총 108명을 대상으로 순음청력기계를 이용하여 기도 및 골도청력검사를 실시하였다. 양군의 평균연령은 폭로군 34.1세 비폭로군 35.8세 였으며 폭로군의 평균 폭로기간은 7.3년이었다. 두 군의 고음청력 손실자율은 폭로군 23.5%, 비폭로군 17.5%로 고음청력분류기준에 따른 청력손실유무와 폭로유무에 대한 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 없었다. 주파수별 청력의 비교에서 기도청력검사상 오른쪽은 8000Hz를 제외하고 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz에서 통계적으로 유의하게 나왔고, 왼쪽은 250, 500, 1000Hz에서 통계적으로 유의 한 차이가 있었다. 골도청력검사상 오른쪽 250Hz을 제외하고 왼쪽 250, 양쪽 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz에서 통계적으로 유의하게 나왔다. 전체적으로 볼 때 기도 및 골도청력 모두에서 비폭로군에 비해 폭로군에서 평균청력역치가 더 높게 나타났다.
This study was performed to evaluate the effects on hearing of video tape manufacturing workers exposed to organic solvents. The experimental groups included solvents exposed group 51 and unexposed group 57 workers. All workers was examined air and bone conduction sensitivity by pure tone audiometer. The mean age of solvents exposed group was 34.1 and nonexposed group was 35.8. The mean duration of solvents exposed group was 7.3years. High frequency hearing loss prevalence of both groups was 23.5% in the group exposed to organic solvents and 17.5% in nonexposed group. There is no statistical significants in the prevalence of high frequency hearing loss. According to comparison of mean auditory threshold value by frequencies, on the air conduction test, right was statistically significant in the 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz, except 8000Hz. Left 250, 500, 1000Hz was statistically significant. On the bone conduction test, left 250, both 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz, except right 250Hz, was statistically significant difference. Generally, auditory sensitivity threshold of the exposed group was higher than the nonexposed group.
