Hearing Loss among World Trade Center Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers

Gregory A. Flamme; David G. Goldfarb; Rachel Zeig-Owens; Charles B. Hall; Brandon M. Vaeth; Theresa Schwartz; Jennifer Yip; Madeline Vossbrinck; Cheryl R. Stein; Liza Friedman; James E. Cone; David J. Prezant

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001717

Hearing Loss among World Trade Center Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers

Gregory A. Flamme, David G. Goldfarb, Rachel Zeig-Owens, Charles B. Hall, Brandon M. Vaeth, Theresa Schwartz, Jennifer Yip, Madeline Vossbrinck, Cheryl R. Stein, Liza Friedman, James E. Cone, David J. Prezant

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective:To determine if World Trade Center (WTC) exposure is associated with hearing loss.Methods:Logistic regression to evaluate the immediate impact of WTC exposure and parametric survival analysis to assess longitudinal outcomes.Results:Those arriving on the morning of September 11, 2001 had elevated odds of low-frequency (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 1.47) and high-frequency (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.31) hearing loss at their first post-September 11, 2001 examination. Longitudinally, participants arriving before September 13, 2001 and spending more than or equal to 6 months at the WTC-site had greater risk of hearing loss in the low frequencies (risk ratio [RR]: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.60) and high frequencies (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.54). By 2016, 3194 (37%) had abnormal hearing sensitivity in either ear and 1751 (20%) in both ears.Conclusions:More heavily WTC-exposed workers were at increased risk of hearing loss, and group differences persisted for at least 15 years. Those with abnormal hearing sensitivity may benefit from interventions such as hearing aids and other rehabilitation.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	996-1003
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume	61
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001717
State	Published - Dec 1 2019

Keywords

World Trade Center
hearing conservation
hearing sensitivity
longitudinal hearing loss
occupational exposures

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1097/JOM.0000000000001717

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Flamme, G. A., Goldfarb, D. G., Zeig-Owens, R., Hall, C. B., Vaeth, B. M., Schwartz, T., Yip, J., Vossbrinck, M., Stein, C. R., Friedman, L., Cone, J. E., & Prezant, D. J. (2019). Hearing Loss among World Trade Center Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(12), 996-1003. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001717

Flamme, GA, Goldfarb, DG, Zeig-Owens, R , Hall, CB, Vaeth, BM, Schwartz, T, Yip, J, Vossbrinck, M, Stein, CR, Friedman, L, Cone, JE & Prezant, DJ 2019, 'Hearing Loss among World Trade Center Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers', Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 61, no. 12, pp. 996-1003. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001717

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abstract = "Objective:To determine if World Trade Center (WTC) exposure is associated with hearing loss.Methods:Logistic regression to evaluate the immediate impact of WTC exposure and parametric survival analysis to assess longitudinal outcomes.Results:Those arriving on the morning of September 11, 2001 had elevated odds of low-frequency (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 1.47) and high-frequency (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.31) hearing loss at their first post-September 11, 2001 examination. Longitudinally, participants arriving before September 13, 2001 and spending more than or equal to 6 months at the WTC-site had greater risk of hearing loss in the low frequencies (risk ratio [RR]: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.60) and high frequencies (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.54). By 2016, 3194 (37%) had abnormal hearing sensitivity in either ear and 1751 (20%) in both ears.Conclusions:More heavily WTC-exposed workers were at increased risk of hearing loss, and group differences persisted for at least 15 years. Those with abnormal hearing sensitivity may benefit from interventions such as hearing aids and other rehabilitation.",

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Hearing Loss among World Trade Center Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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