Auditory dysfunction associated with solvent exposure

BMC Public Health

Louise Hickson²  Bradley McPherson¹  Adrian Fuente² 

[1] Centre for Communication Disorders. The University of Hong Kong, 5/F Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, China;School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. The University of Queensland, Room 825, Level 8, Therapies Building (No 84A), St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

关键词: Temporal resolution;    Solvents;    Hearing loss;    Assessment;   

Others  :  1162640
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-39

 received in 2012-09-20, accepted in 2013-01-14,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

A number of studies have demonstrated that solvents may induce auditory dysfunction. However, there is still little knowledge regarding the main signs and symptoms of solvent-induced hearing loss (SIHL). The aim of this research was to investigate the association between solvent exposure and adverse effects on peripheral and central auditory functioning with a comprehensive audiological test battery.

Methods

Seventy-two solvent-exposed workers and 72 non-exposed workers were selected to participate in the study. The test battery comprised pure-tone audiometry (PTA), transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), Random Gap Detection (RGD) and Hearing-in-Noise test (HINT).

Results

Solvent-exposed subjects presented with poorer mean test results than non-exposed subjects. A bivariate and multivariate linear regression model analysis was performed. One model for each auditory outcome (PTA, TEOAE, RGD and HINT) was independently constructed. For all of the models solvent exposure was significantly associated with the auditory outcome. Age also appeared significantly associated with some auditory outcomes.

Conclusions

This study provides further evidence of the possible adverse effect of solvents on the peripheral and central auditory functioning. A discussion of these effects and the utility of selected hearing tests to assess SIHL is addressed.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Fuente et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 1.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]IUPAC: Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Oxford: Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson, Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1997. XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org webcite (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/goldbook webcite
• [2]Chen MS, Chan A: China’s “market economics in command”: Footwear workers’ health in jeopardy. Int J Health Serv 1999, 29:793-811.
• [3]Szulc-Kuberska J, Tronczynska J, Latkowski N: Oto-neurological investigations of chronic trichloroethylene poisoning. Minerva Otorinolaringol 1976, 26:108-112.
• [4]Campo P, Lataye R, Cossec B, et al.: Toluene-induced hearing loss: a mid-frequency location of the cochlear lesions. Neurotoxicol Teratol 1997, 19:129-140.
• [5]Johnson AC, Canlon B: Progressive hair cell loss induced by toluene exposure. Hear Res 1994, 75:1-40.
• [6]Crofton KM, Lassiter TL, Rebert CS: Solvent-induced ototoxicity in rats. an atypical selective mid-frequency hearing deficit. Hear Res 1994, 80:25-30.
• [7]Morata TC: Study of the effects of simultaneous exposure to noise and carbon disulfide on workers hearing. Scand Audiol 1989, 1989(18):53-58.
• [8]Morata TC, Fiorini AC, Fischer FM, et al.: Toluene–induced hearing loss among rotogravure printing workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 1997, 23:289-298.
• [9]Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Zamyslowska-Szmytke E, Szymczak W, et al.: Ototoxic effects of occupational exposure to styrene and co-exposure to styrene and noise. J Occup Environ Med 2003, 45:15-24.
• [10]Fuente A, McPherson B: Central auditory processing effects induced by solvent exposure. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2007, 20:271-279.
• [11]Fuente A, Slade MD, Taylor T, et al.: Peripheral and central auditory dysfunction induced by occupational exposure to organic solvents. J Occup Environ Med 2009, 51:1202-1211.
• [12]Sulkowski WJ, Kowalska S, Matyja W, et al.: Effects of occupational exposure to a mixture of solvents on the inner ear: a field study. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2002, 15:247-256.
• [13]Johnson AC, Morata TC, Lindblad AC, et al.: Audiological findings in workers exposed to styrene alone or in concert with noise. Noise Health 2006, 8:45-57.
• [14]Ödkvist LM, Arlinger SD, Edling C, et al.: Audiological and vestibule-oculomotor findings in workers exposed to solvents and jet fuel. Scand Audiol 1987, 16:75-81.
• [15]Ödkvist LM, Moller C, Thuomas KA: Otoneurologic disturbances caused by solvent pollution. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1992, 106:687-692.
• [16]Laukli E, Hansen PW: An audiometric test battery for the evaluation of occupational exposure to industrial solvents. Acta Otolaryngol 1995, 115:162-164.
• [17]Varney NR, Kubu CS, Morrow LA: Dichotic listening performances of patients with chronic exposure to organic solvents. Clin Neuropsychol 1998, 12:107-112.
• [18]Zamyslowska-Szmytke E, Fuente A, Niebudek-Bogusz E, et al.: Temporal processing disorder associated with styrene exposure. Audiol Neurotol 2009, 14:296-302.
• [19]Morata TC, Little MB: Suggested guidelines for studying the combined effects of occupational exposure to noise and chemicals on hearing. Noise Health 2002, 4:73-87.
• [20]Jerger J: Clinical experience with impedance audiometry. Arch Otolaryngol 1970, 92:311-324.
• [21]Hughson W, Westlake HD: Manual for program outline for rehabilitation of aural casualties both military and civilian. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 1944, 48(Suppl):1-15.
• [22]Carhart R, Jerger J: Preferred method for clinical determination of pure-tone thresholds. J Speech Hear Disord 1959, 24:330-345.
• [23]Kemp DT, Ryan S, Bray P: A guide to the effective use of otoacoustic emissions. Ear Hear 1990, 11:93-105.
• [24]Shinn JB: Temporal processing and temporal patterning tests. In Handbook of (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder, Auditory Neuroscience and Diagnosis. Edited by Musiek FE, Chermak GD. San Diego Plural: Publishing, vol 1; 2007:231-255.
• [25]Keith RW: Random Gap Detection Test. St. Louis: Auditec; 2000.
• [26]Nilsson M, Soli SD, Sullivan JA: Development of the Hearing in Noise Test for the measurement of speech reception thresholds in quiet and in noise. J Acoust Soc Am 1994, 95:1085-1099.
• [27]Fuente A, McPherson B: Organic solvents and hearing loss: the challenge for audiology. Int J Audiol 2006, 45:367-381.
• [28]Morata TC, Johnson AC, Nylen P, et al.: Audiometric findings in workers exposed to low levels of styrene and noise. J Occup Environ Med 2000, 44:806-814.
• [29]Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Zamyslowska-Szmytke E, Szymczak W, et al.: Ototoxic effects of occupational exposure to styrene and co-exposure to styrene and noise. J Occupl Environ Med 2003, 45:15-24.
• [30]Chang SJ, Chen CJ, Lien CH, et al.: Hearing loss in workers exposed to toluene and noise. Environ Health Perspect 2006, 114:1283-1286.
• [31]Brant LJ, Fozard JL: Age changes in pure-tone thresholds in a longitudinal study of normal human aging. J Acoust Soc Am 1990, 88:813-820.
• [32]Acoustics -- Statistical distribution of hearing thresholds as a function of age. ISO 7029:2000
• [33]Loquet G, Campo P, Lataye R: Comparison of toluene-induced and styrene-induced hearing losses. Neurotoxicol Teratol 1999, 21:689-697.
• [34]Hwang JH, Tan CT, Chiang CW, et al.: Acute effects of alcohol on auditory thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions in humans. Acta Otolaryngol 2003, 123:936-940.
• [35]Cacace AT, McClelland WA, Weiner J, et al.: Individual differences and the reliability of 2 F1-F2 distortion-product otoacoustic emissions: effects of time-of-day, stimulus variables, and gender. J Speech Hear Res 1996, 39:1138-1148.
• [36]Dreisbach LE, Kramer SJ, Cobos S, et al.: Racial and gender effects on pure-tone thresholds and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in normal-hearing young adults. Int J Audiol 2007, 46:419-426.
• [37]Chisolm TH, Willott JF, Lister JJ: The aging auditory system: anatomic and physiologic changes and implications for rehabilitation. Int J Audiol 2003, 42(2):2S3-2S10.
• [38]Musiek FE, Shinn JB, Jirsa R, et al.: GIN (gaps-in-noise) test performance in subjects with confirmed central auditory nervous system involvement. Ear Hear 2005, 26:608-618.
• [39]Gopal KV: Audiological findings in individuals exposed to organic solvents: case studies. Noise Health 2008, 10:74-82.
• [40]Tremblay KL, Billings C, Rohila A: Speech evoked cortical potentials: effects of age and stimulus presentation rate. J Am Acad Audiol 2004, 15:226-237.
• [41]Healy EW, Bacon SP: Effect of spectral frequency range and separation on the perception of asynchronous speech. J Acoust Soc Am 2007, 121:1691-1700.
• [42]Sliwinska-Kowalska M, Prasher D, Rodrigues CA, et al.: Ototoxicity of organic solvents - from scientific evidence to health policy. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2007, 20:215-222.