Noise assessment among Alaska pipeline workers.

Hearing levels were studied in 948 Alaska pipeline workers. The subjects studied here consist of various kinds of industrial workers and office employees. Hearing threshold of office employees are in general agreement with those of non-industrial populations reported in a few surveys from the literature. Consequently, these data of the office employees are used for controls. Industrial workers over 25 years old are significantly affected with hearing loss, particularly those who work as pipefitters, carpenters, and mechanics. With advancing age, deterioration of hearing occurs in all employees studied here.