title: Ototoxicity effects of low exposure to solvent mixture among paint manufacturing workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate auditory function in a group of workers exposed to organic solvent mixture at a paint factory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-one workers were studied, 77 exposed to solvents and 84 unexposed. Fourteen solvents were measured, including toluene, xylene, and n-hexane. Pure-tone audiometry and brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) were performed. Industrial noise was < 85 dBA and exposure levels to organic solvents were low.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exposed group showed a hearing impairment in both ears compared with the unexposed workers. Multiple linear regression models adjusted by age, chronic pathologies, and environmental noise for frequency means between 125 and 8000 Hz produced the following results: for the left ear, R(2) = 33.3%, exposed vs. unexposed β = 4.1 (p < 0.001); and for the right ear, R(2) = 38%, exposed vs. unexposed β = 4.8 (p < 0.001). Adjusted for age and chronic pathologies, waves III and V, and interpeak interval latencies were increased (p < 0.05) in both ears in the exposed group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although solvent mixture concentrations and noise levels were low, our results demonstrate that there may be a concurrent ototoxicity and neurotoxicity condition and emphasize the importance of including BAEP analysis for comprehensive assessments. Future studies that include otoacoustic emissions assessments to monitor cochlear function and central auditory processing tests are imperative.
authors.affiliation: * Unidad de Investigación de Salud en el Trabajo, Centro Médico Nacional "Siglo XXI", Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social , IMSS , Mexico.
authors.forename: Cuauhtémoc Arturo
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Juárez-Pérez
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Valenzuela
authors.forename: Luis Cuauhtémoc
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Haro-García
authors.forename: Víctor Hugo
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Borja-Aburto
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Madrid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents
keywords: Ototoxicity; noise; organic solvent mixture; workers