Organic solvents and hearing loss: The challenge for audiology.
Organic solvents have been reported to adversely affect human health, including hearing health. Animal models have demonstrated that solvents may induce auditory damage, especially to the outer hair cells. Research on workers exposed to solvents has suggested that these chemicals may also induce auditory damage through effects on the central auditory pathways. Studies conducted with both animals and humans demonstrate that the hearing frequencies affected by solvent exposure are different to those affected by noise, and that solvents may interact synergistically with noise. The present article aims to review the contemporary literature of solvent-induced hearing loss, and consider the implications of solvent-induced auditory damage for clinical audiologists. Possible audiological tests that may be used when auditory damage due to solvent exposure is suspected are discussed.
Fuente
Adrian
A
Centre for Communication Disorders, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. afuente@hkusua.hku.hk
McPherson
Bradley
B
D000818:Animals; D001298:Audiology; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000009:adverse effects; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D020058:Styrene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity; D014992:Xylenes / Q000633:toxicity
D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D014050:Toluene; D020058:Styrene; D002246:Carbon Disulfide