Exposure of Adolescents to Leisure-Time Noise: Results of the First Follow-Up of the Ohrkan Cohort Study

Objective Analysis of changes in leisure noise exposure among adolescents during 2.5 years of follow-up. Methods The analysis is based on the Ohrkan cohort study. A total of 2 149 9th graders in the City of Regensburg (mostly aged 15-16 years) were recruited between 2009-2011. At 2.5-year follow-up, the participants were asked again about leisure noise exposure. Both at baseline (O-I) and in the follow-up (O-II), self-reported frequency of participation in noisy activities was combined with literature-based values of usual sound levels to calculate the total weekly noise exposure. This exposure was compared to the lower exposure action value (lEAV) of 80 dB(A) given by the occupational health and safety regulations. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with leisure noise exposure above the lEAV. Results Exposure data from both time points were available for 1 704 adolescents (54 % female). The percentage of participants who were exposed to leisure noise exceeding the lEAV increased from 75 to 92 % due to more persons visiting discotheques in O-II. In both surveys, the activity reported by the highest percentage of participants and with the longest exposure duration was listening to pop music via portable listening devices (PLD) although the proportion of users decreased slightly. Not being a pupil affected PLD use at volume levels >80 dB (A) whereas older age was associated with noise exposure in discotheques. Conclusions O-II shows that adolescents are engaged in leisure activities under harmful noise levels and that noise exposure sources are changing with age. These issues should be considered in the developing of prevention programs.