Effect of Chronic Exposure to Low-Frequency Noise on Musculoskeletal Pain, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life in Employees

Noise Health. 2025 Jul-Aug 01;27(127):526-533. doi: 10.4103/nah.nah_146_24. Epub 2025 Sep 11.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain in the neck, shoulder, waist, and legs is a primary public health concern, especially in occupational settings where musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic exposure to low-frequency noise in industrial environments may exacerbate pain perception and psychological distress, but its full impact on musculoskeletal pain and associated psychological factors remains underexplored.

METHODS: This study focused on 256 employees from a local automobile manufacturing company who experienced shoulder, neck, lower back, and leg pains from August 2022 to August 2023. Participants were categorized into two groups according to their chronic exposure to low-frequency noise: the noise-exposed group (n = 119), who were exposed to noise levels of 0-200 Hz > 80 dB for more than 8 hour per day, and the non-noise group (n = 137), with less than 8 h/day during the same period. Data were collected on pain scores, psychological status, quality of life, and sleep quality using validated scales, including the Visual Analogue Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS: A retrospective study was conducted involving 256 employees from an automobile manufacturing company, who were divided into a noise-exposed group (n = 119), chronically exposed to low-frequency noise, and a non-noise group (n = 137). The Noise-exposed group reported higher pain scores (5.04 ± 1.06 vs. 4.64 ± 1.35, P = 0.008) and increased anxiety (SAS: 28.16 ± 6.23 vs. 26.31 ± 5.77, P = 0.014) and depression scores (SDS: 29.57 ± 5.34 vs. 28.16 ± 4.89, P = 0.028). Quality of life was impacted, particularly physiological function (42.48 ± 6.08 vs. 44.26 ± 6.12, P = 0.020), although differences in joint function and sleep quality were not statistically significant (All P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Chronic exposure to low-frequency noise was associated with heightened pain perception and psychological distress among workers, which influenced certain quality of life parameters.

PMID:40932088 | DOI:10.4103/nah.nah_146_24