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Meibian Zhang

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Meta-analysis Open access Jul 2026

Impact of Occupational Noise on Menstrual Disorders in Female Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Occupational noise exposure may impair female reproductive health, but evidence on its association with menstrual disorders remains limited. OBJECTIVE This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between occupational noise exposure and menstrual disorders among female workers, providing evidence for future research and occupational health policy. METHODS Peer-reviewed studies published from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2024, were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP. Eligible studies examined occupational noise exposure and menstrual disorders in female workers. Data on study characteristics, exposure assessment, diagnostic criteria, menstrual outcomes, and effect estimates were extracted. Study quality was assessed using tools for cross-sectional and cohort studies. Meta-analyses were performed using odds ratios (ORs) or risk ratios (RRs), as appropriate, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and subgroup analyses were conducted by study design, noise level, diagnostic criteria, and industry type. RESULTS Twenty-two studies were included in the review, and 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. All were conducted in China, mostly in textile-related settings. Occupational noise exposure was significantly associated with menstrual disorders among female workers (OR = 3.27, 95% CI: 2.50-4.29, P < 0.01), including dysmenorrhea (RR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.58-1.95), menstrual cycle irregularities (OR = 3.54, 95% CI: 2.54-4.94), abnormal menstrual duration (OR = 3.29, 95% CI: 1.65-6.59), and abnormal menstrual flow (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.74-3.66). Higher noise levels, especially ≥90 dB(A), longer exposure duration, and nonsteady or impulsive noise may further increase risk. Substantial heterogeneity was observed. CONCLUSION Occupational noise exposure may increase the risk of menstrual disorders among female workers. However, evidence is limited by observational designs, heterogeneous exposure and diagnostic methods, inadequate control for confounders, and a concentration in Chinese textile-related settings. Prospective multicenter studies with standardized criteria, objective noise assessment, and rigorous adjustment for confounders are needed.

Xiao-Han Li, Yuwen Huang, Zhong-Hao Wang et al. · Noise and Health · 0 citations

Open access Jan 2026

Auditory Differences in Occupationally Noise-Exposed Workers With Normal Conventional Audiograms: A Multi-Measure Surveillance Approach

Young adults with normal conventional audiograms may nonetheless show early noise-related auditory differences that routine surveillance misses. We evaluated a clinically feasible test battery using 280 occupationally noise-exposed workers and 100 age-matched low-noise controls (20-40 years; ≤20 dB HL at 0.5-8 kHz). Measures included conventional and extended high-frequency (EHF; 9-16 kHz) audiometry, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs; 0.5-10 kHz), ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds (ARTs; 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz; 226-Hz probe tone), click-evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABR; wave I, wave V, and V/I ratio at 50 and 90 dBnHL), and Mandarin Bamford-Kowal-Bench speech-in-noise testing (SiN). Noise-exposed participants showed elevated ARTs at all elicitor frequencies, with the largest elevation at 2 kHz, as well as poorer EHF thresholds and lower DPOAE levels. In contrast, click-evoked ABR metrics did not differ between groups. After controlling for conventional-frequency pure-tone average (PTA4; 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) and extended high-frequency pure-tone average (PTAEHF; 9–16 kHz), lower DPOAE amplitudes were associated with higher ARTs. ARTs were not significantly associated with SiN performance, quantified as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) required for 50% correct recognition (SNR-50), cumulative noise exposure, or ABR measures. The noise-exposed group showed higher SNR-50 values, indicating poorer speech-in-noise performance. Within the noise-exposed group, SNR-50 was associated with PTA4 and cumulative noise exposure, whereas its association with PTAEHF was weaker and did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Together, these findings suggest that cochlear-status measures, conventional ARTs, and functional SiN performance provide complementary information beyond the conventional audiogram in occupational hearing surveillance.

Wulan Zhao, Alexis Pinsonnault-Skvarenina, Meibian Zhang et al. · Trends in Hearing · 0 citations