Evaluation of exposure to noise in seafarers on several types of vessels in Polish Merchant Navy.

Noise was measured on merchant ships of 3 types, during routine sea voyages. It was found that the equivalent noise levels calculated for engine crew members exceeded the accepted hygienic norm by 1-2 dB. Also audiometric examinations at the beginning and on completion of a voyage were performed, enrolling seamen from the engine room and from the deck crews. They showed statistically significant differences of temporary shift of the hearing threshold, more pronounced in the engine room crew.