title: Epidemiological analysis of the association between hearing and barium in humans.
abstract: Our previous study experimentally showed barium (Ba)-mediated hearing loss in mice. To our knowledge, however, it remains unknown whether Ba affects hearing in humans. This epidemiological study aimed at investigating ototoxicity of Ba in humans. Associations of Ba levels in hair, toenails and urine with hearing levels (1, 4, 8 and 12 kHz) were analyzed in 145 Bangladeshi subjects. Binary logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking showed that Ba levels in hair had significant associations with hearing loss at 8 kHz (OR=4.75; 95% CI: 1.44, 17.68) and 12 kHz (OR=15.48; 95% CI: 4.04, 79.45). Ba levels in toenails were also associated with hearing loss at 8 kHz (OR=3.20; 95% CI: 1.35, 7.85) and 12 kHz (OR=3.63; 95% CI: 1.58, 8.55), whereas there was no correlation between Ba level in urinary samples and hearing. There was a significant correlation between hearing loss and Ba levels in hair and toenails in the model adjusted with arsenic levels as the confounder. In conclusion, this study suggested that Ba levels could be a new risk factor for hearing loss, especially at high frequencies of 8 and 12 kHz, in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.|Nutritional Health Science Research Center, Chubu University, Matsumoto, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan.|Voluntary Body for International Health Care in Universities, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohgami
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitsumatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Nazmul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Anwarul Azim
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akhand
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.|Nutritional Health Science Research Center, Chubu University, Matsumoto, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan.|Voluntary Body for International Health Care in Universities, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Machiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.|Voluntary Body for International Health Care in Universities, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakai
authors.affiliation: Voluntary Body for International Health Care in Universities, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohnuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.|Voluntary Body for International Health Care in Universities, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D001464:Barium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001464:Barium