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OTOTOXINS

Hearing loss related to chemical and/or medicinal exposure

A wide variety of chemicals and medication may, alone or in concert with noise, result in hearing loss.

The substances are called ototoxins and affect the hair cells and /or the auditory neurological pathways. Inhalation or absorption through the skin of certain chemicals may have an additive or synergistic effect. Some chemical toxicants that do not cause hearing reduction themselves may, in combination with noise exposure, cause permanent hearing loss. Ask your doctor if you have a concern!

Hearing damage is more likely to occur if exposure is a combination of substances or the combination of a substance and noise. In furniture-making as with other industrial woodworking, noise and ototoxic substances are commonly found together.

Solvents: the most common culprit

In the vast majority of cases ototoxic hearing loss is caused by solvents with atomatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon chains. These solvents have been recognized for their neurotoxic effects on both the central and peripheral nervous system. The most common ototoxic solvents are:

• alcohol
• toluene
• ethyl benzene
• styrene
• n-hexane
• carbon tetrachloride
• carbon disulfide
• trichloroethylene
• perchloroethylene
• acrylonitrile.

 

Agents that are considered synergistic with noise exposure (in other words they have an amplified effect when together) include

• carbon disulfide
• carbon tetrachloride
• carbon monoxide
• hydrogene cyanide
• styrene
• methyl ethyl ketone
• methyl isobutyl ketone.

 

It is recommended that individuals working with the above agents have an annual audio-gram to monitor their hearing health!

Medications and Ototoxins:

Some medications have been identified as ototoxins and include:

• antibiotics such as streptomycin; quinine:
• salicylates such as aspirin when used over long periods of time:
• anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis and anti-rheumatic agents, and lop-diuretics.

Individuals who may have any concerns about the tototoxic effects of medication should consult their doctor or pharmacist.

on a Personal Note:

As we do research into this topic, I wonder if my husband is the perfect example.. he wears two hearing aids, and has been identified by his naturopathic doctor as having an overload of carbon disulfide in his body.. At this point in time we are totally puzzled about the origin of this chemical in his bloodstream, but are currently researching the additives being used in our knife grinding coolant and other industrial chemicals we have on site. After reading this I can't help but wonder if this might be associated with his significant hearing loss.. please learn from our example, take precaution.. work with wood safely. .. Karen

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