AN ASSESSMENT OF A COMBINED IMPACT OF OCCUPATIONAL NOISE AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN EMPLOYEES OF OIL-PRODUCING COMPANIES

摘要

Background / Aims: Behavioral factors, in particular alcohol consumption, can exacerbate the harmful impact of work environment factors on human health. So the aim of the study was to assess the combined occupational impact of occupational noise and alcohol consumption on the development of arterial hypertension in employees of oil-producing companies. Methods: The study assessed the relationship between the influencing factors and the prevalence of hypertension in the groups of the personnel of oil producing companies, who were exposed to occupational noise at 81-91 dBA (n=109), and non-exposed employees (n=215). Alcohol consumption was evaluated by a survey using the original Eurobarometer questionnaire, which was utilized in previous studies (EU citizens' attitudes towards alcohol, 2006, 2009). The criterion of alcohol consumption was considered to be alcohol consumption in the past 12 months. Among the respondents, 77.2% consumed alcohol. In the European Union countries, this indicator was 76% (Special Eurobarometer, 331). Results: In operators and mechanics of pumping stations, hypertension was identified as a work-related disease (RR =1.65, CI=1.18-2.30, EF=39.30%). In the employees who consumed alcohol, we determined a true relationship between the combined impact of alcohol consumption and occupational noise and the incidence of the disease (RR=1.82, CI=1.19-2.78, EF=45.02%). However, the relationship between the incidence of hypertension and alcohol consumption in the employees who were not exposed to occupational noise was unreliable (RR=1.13, CI=0.22-5.85). The risk of hypertension, identified as a work-related disease for the studied occupational noise levels, in individuals, who are exposed to occupational noise and consume alcohol, has been found to increase significantly.