Neurobehavioral Alterations in Occupational Noise Exposure: A Systematic Review

Nicola Mucci, Veronica Traversini, Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli, Luigi Vimercati, Venerando Rapisarda, Raymond Paul Galea, Simone De Sio and Giulio Arcangeli
Additional contact information
Nicola Mucci: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Veronica Traversini: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli: Occupational Medicine School, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Luigi Vimercati: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Occupational Health Division, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Venerando Rapisarda: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
Raymond Paul Galea: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 L-Imsida, Malta
Simone De Sio: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Locomotor Apparatus Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 5 Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giulio Arcangeli: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-21

Abstract: The psychology of sustainability and sustainable development emphasizes the value to ensure health and well-being in different environments, including workplaces. Chronic exposure to noise can cause several extraordinary effects and involve all the systems of the human organism. In addition to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune effects, the data in the literature show alterations in behavioral disturbances, memory capacity, and cognitive performance. Through this systematic review, the authors try to find out the main neurobehavioral alterations in the case of occupational exposure to noise. The literature review included articles published in the major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase), using a combination of some relevant keywords. This online search yielded 4434 references; after selection, the authors analyzed 41 articles (4 narrative reviews and 37 original articles). From this analysis, it appears that the main symptoms are related to psychological distress, annoyance, sleep disturbances, and cognitive performance. Regarding tasks, the most frequent employments concern school staff, followed by employees from various industrial sectors and office workers. Although the causes are still widely debated, it is essential to protect these workers against chronic exposure to noise. In fact, in addition to a hearing loss, they can manifest many other related discomforts over time and compromise their full working capacity, as well as expose them to a greater risk of accidents or absences from work.

Keywords: occupational noise; job; work; behavioral disorders; psychological disorders; annoyance; occupational medicine; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:12224-:d:672932

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