eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health 2334-3494 2020-07-07 8 2 79 87 10.12691/jephh-8-2-5 JEPHH2020825 article Daniel Omondi Onyango domondi@eng.jkuat.ac.ke 1 Robert Kinyua 2 Abel Nyakundi Mayaka 3 Christopher Kanali 4 Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya Physics Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya Noise-induced hearing loss in workplaces is a challenge, which may lead to accidents and interference with communication. In order to protect workers and students exposed in engineering workshops and laboratories, it is important to determine the magnitude and understand causative factors to adequately address the problem. The present study aimed at identifying predisposing factors that lead to noise-induced hearing loss in public universities in Kenya. The study was conducted in 10 technical universities, identified through purposive non-probability quarter sampling from a population of 49. Noise profiling was used to identify and characterize sources and types. An integrating sound level meter was used to record the noise levels for the different clusters and results compared with statutory requirements. Existing controls for noise pollution were also assessed. The results show that a large proportion (84.1%) of the noise types identified was continuous. The continuous noise emanated mainly from hand grinding (18%) and internal combustions engines (25%) with resultant values being above the statutory upper action limit of 85 dBA. The sources of impulsive noise were mainly intermittent actions of electric-powered (47.6%) and manually-operated (52.4%) tools. Impulsive noise levels were found to be below the maximum permissible exposure limit of 140 dBA. Although one of the universities had a safety and health committee and a risk management department, hearing protection was not used by those exposed. Noise-induced hearing loss in workshops and laboratories in public universities in Kenya is likely to occur from continuous noise exposure since there are inadequate control measures taken. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jephh/8/2/5/jephh-8-2-5.pdf noise-induced hearing loss causative factors Kenya universities