Objective To review the current status of occupational exposure limits(OELs)for occupational noise in China and abroad,providing a scientific basis for the further revision of China's noise OELs standards and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL).Methods The standards and regulations for noise OELs from 36 countries and literature in English and Chinese on the role of kurtosis in revising noise OELs standards were searched and comparatively analyzed.Results The results show that noise OELs were developed in each country mainly based on different types of noise without considering the characteristics of noise temporal structure.In addition,many countries in Europe and America required that,except the OELs,increased risk of hearing loss due to harmful factors(e.g.,ototoxic substances),the susceptibility of high-risk groups,and noise attenuation of hearing protectors needed to be considered in the application of noise OELs;scholars at home and abroad suggested that noise kurtosis should be included in the noise OEL standards,as it was one of the risk factors for hearing loss.Conclusion China's noise OELs standards at workplaces need to be improved.Noise OELs parameters should be enriched further.A comprehensive consideration of wearing hearing protectors,co-exposure to harmful factors and noise in the workplace,and individual susceptibility should be conducted.
NoiseWorkplaceOccupational exposure limitsNoise-induced hearing loss
万方数据
维普
