Physiological Assessment of Hearing Loss and Blood Pressure in Textile Workers at Kaduna Textile Mill

Noise-induced hearing loss and noise-related blood pressure elevation are well-recognised occupational hazards in textile manufacturing settings globally, yet Nigerian factory-level data remain limited. This study assessed hearing loss and blood pressure among workers at the Kaduna Textile Mill, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Eighty workers with at least three years of factory exposure were recruited alongside 40 administrative staff with minimal noise exposure as controls. Pure-tone audiometric testing was conducted at frequencies from 500 to 8000 Hz. Blood pressure was measured after ten minutes of seated rest using a validated sphygmomanometer. Workplace noise levels were measured at multiple production stations using a sound level meter. Independent t-tests and Pearson correlation were applied. Results showed that 43.75 percent of textile workers exhibited high-frequency hearing loss consistent with noise-induced patterns, compared to 7.5 percent among controls. Blood pressure was significantly elevated in noise-exposed workers. Noise levels at production stations ranged from 88 to 103 decibels, exceeding permissible occupational limits. Exposure duration correlated positively with degree of hearing impairment and blood pressure elevation. The study concludes that occupational noise in textile mills poses serious physiological hazards. Mandatory hearing protection, engineering noise controls, and routine audiometric and blood pressure screening are recommended. Keywords: noise-induced hearing loss, blood pressure, textile workers, occupational noise, Kaduna.