Occupational hearing loss in Podkarpackie voivodeship and Poland between the years 2008-2017.

Introduction: Among the population of adults, hearing loss related to occupational exposure to noise makes up ca 16%, which is the second etiological factor, after ageing, causing anomalies connected with hearing. According to statistical data, in Europe about 30 million of employees are exposed to the noise. In Poland the number equals to 187 500.

Aim: The analysis of the structure of confirmed cases of occupational hearing loss between 2008-2017 in Poland and in Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

Meterials And Methods: Information related to Podkarpackie Voivodeship was obtained out of the cards verifying occupational illness, sent by National Sanitary District Inspectors from particular districts of Podkarpackie Voivodship to Podkarpacki National Provincial Sanitary Inspectorate. The data related to Poland within indicated period of time are obtained out of the studies entitled Occupational illnesses in Poland, published by Occupational Health Institute in Łódź.

Results: In Poland double permanent hearing loss is decreasing. In Podkarpackie Voivodship, during the analysed period of time, the incidence of recognition of occupational hearing loss was not high, a total of 74 cases, including 1 case when the illness concerned a woman. In most cases the occupational hearing loss caused by the noise in Poland and in Podkarpackie Voivodship was revealed in industrial processing.

Conclusions: Most cases of occupational hearing loss in Poland was diagnosed with the men over 60 years old in Śląskie and Pomorskie Voivodeship, professionally linked to mining, heavy mechanical and metallurgical industry as well as means of transport. In Podkarpackie Voivodeship the increased number of diagnosed cases revealed in districts: stalowowolski, krośnieński, rzeszowski and przemyski (metallurgical and timber industry).