PURPOSE: To check whether metallurgic workers are likely to develop vocal problems and whether these problems are related to environmental working aspects. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty individuals answered a questionnaire about their work environment, vocal signs and symptoms, negative vocal habits, voice and hearing aspects and general health. After the interview a vocal screening was carried out, classifying the voices as adapted or deviated. Data were statistically analized using variable correlations. RESULTS: Regarding work environment, 278 (99.3%) of the individuals reported exposure to intense noise, 194 (69.3%) to chemicals, 244 (87.1%) to dust and 171 (61.1%) to fumes. The most reported vocal symptoms were frequent dry throat (204 - 72.9%), sore throat (193 - 68.9%), throat clearing (185 - 66.1%), hoarseness episodes (163 - 58.2%) and coughing (141 - 50.4%). Voice screening showed that 226 (80.7%) subjects had adapted voices and 54 (19.3%) had deviated voices, suggesting a high occurrence of possible voice problems. Statistical analysis showed a significant relation between subjects' age, years of work and maximum phonation time with voice deviation, evidencing that the older the subject and the longer he had been working, the smaller the maximum phonation time. There was also a significant correlation between voice deviation on the screening and reports of exposure to dust, hoarseness, dry throat and throat clearing. CONCLUSION: Metallurgic workers presented high occurrence of voice deviation that might be related to work environment, which can contribute to the development of dysphonia.
Occupational health; Metalmechanic industry; Voice disorders; Working environment; Questionnaires; Triage
