ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health

Sec. Occupational Health and Safety

Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1581677

This article is part of the Research TopicNavigating Environmental Hazards in the Workplace: Impacts and InterventionsView all articles

Occupational Noise in the University Setting: Dosimetric Assessment and Strategies for Exposure Reduction

Provisionally accepted
Leyner Torres-CoboLeyner Torres-Cobo1Javier Alcazar-EspinozaJavier Alcazar-Espinoza1Mariuxi Vinueza-MoralesMariuxi Vinueza-Morales1Andrea Muñoz-TariraAndrea Muñoz-Tarira1Cristian Vidal-SilvaCristian Vidal-Silva2*
  • 1State University of Milagro, Milagro, Guayas, Ecuador
  • 2University of the Americas (UDLA), Granados, Chile

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This study investigates occupational noise exposure in a university setting through dosimetric assessments conducted at Universidad Estatal de Milagro (UNEMI), Ecuador, by analyzing measurements collected in distinct campus areas during two periods, 2017 and 2025. Methods: Sound pressure levels were measured across selected high-traffic and functional campus areas using standardized equipment in accordance with UNE-EN-ISO 9612:2009. Results: Measurements revealed an increasing trend in occupational noise exposure across university areas, with 2025 levels substantially exceeding recommended thresholds. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the critical need for implementing targeted noise mitigation strategies to protect auditory health and preserve academic excellence within higher education institutions. Implications: Adopting these strategies can significantly reduce occupational health risks and foster a healthier, more effective academic environment. The study proposes comprehensive mitigation strategies tailored to university environments to address these challenges.

Keywords: Occupational noise, acoustic dosimetry, university auditory health, noise exposure, noise mitigation

Received: 25 Feb 2025; Accepted: 13 May 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Torres-Cobo, Alcazar-Espinoza, Vinueza-Morales, Muñoz-Tarira and Vidal-Silva. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Cristian Vidal-Silva, University of the Americas (UDLA), Granados, Chile

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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