Pedro Belou. Conference delivered in 1936 on occupational hearing loss and urban noise

Abstract

City noise became a significant issue at the global level towards the end of the 20th Century, and discussions on pioneer efforts conducted by specialists who advocated for a healthy sound environment are rare. This is the case of Pedro Belou, a Uruguayan born otolaryngologist who developed his professional career in Argentina and was a renowned scientist worldwide. Belou could be regarded as one of the first physicians in the River Plate to warn us about diseases arising from noise exposure in cities and factories, during a conference he delivered in Buenos Aires in 1936. This article brings his presentation to you given the current relevance of his argument and to contribute to his biography, since this conference has not been mentioned in any of his previous biographies.