Analysis of current scientific research on methods of assessing the impact of industrial noise on workers and its negative health effects

Abstract

The article examines the problem of the impact of industrial noise on workers, the production environment, residents of adjacent territories, and the environment. The relevance of the topic is associated with the growing number of noise sources, industrial development, increasing complexity of technological processes, and the widespread use of high-performance equipment that creates significant noise loads. It has been established that industrial noise is one of the most dangerous factors of the working environment, as it affects not only the human auditory system but also the nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems, reduces work capacity, increases fatigue and stress levels, and raises the risk of occupational injuries. The paper summarizes modern scientific approaches to studying the nature of industrial noise, its physical characteristics, spectral composition, temporal features, and propagation patterns. The main noise sources at industrial enterprises are considered, including mechanical equipment, crushers, presses, hammers, compressors, fans, turbines, conveyors, transformers, metal-cutting machines, ventilation systems, and technological processes such as cutting, grinding, drilling, and welding. It has been determined that most industrial sectors are characterized by noise levels exceeding 85 dB(A), while some technological processes may generate noise above 100 dB(A), creating a high risk of occupational hearing loss. Impulse and low-frequency noise are particularly dangerous because they may cause pronounced vibroacoustic effects on the human body. The article analyzes modern methods of noise impact assessment, including field acoustic measurements, noise exposure assessment, acoustic modeling, GIS technologies, and noise mapping. It is shown that the use of digital models makes it possible not only to identify the most hazardous production areas but also to predict noise propagation and assess the effectiveness of noise protection measures. Considerable attention is paid to the analysis of international and Ukrainian regulatory documents in the field of occupational noise, including International Organization for Standardization ISO 9612:2025, European Union Directive 2003/10/EC, DSN 3.3.6.037-99, and Order №540 of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. It has been established that modern scientific studies increasingly consider noise as a complex risk factor that affects not only hearing but also psycho-emotional condition, occupational burnout, reaction speed, quality of life, and worker safety. Promising directions for further research include the use of IoT sensors, dynamic noise maps, real-time monitoring systems, and artificial intelligence for predicting noise risks and developing effective noise protection measures.