Temporary and Permanent Auditory Effects Associated with Occupational Coexposure to Low Levels of Noise and Solvents

Vanessa Bohn, Thais C. Morata, Simone Roggia, Fernanda Zucki, Benoît Pouyatos, Thomas Venet, Edward Krieg, Maria Renata José and Adriana B. M. de Lacerda ()
Additional contact information
Vanessa Bohn: Post Graduate Program of Communication Disorders, University Tuiuti of Paraná, Curitiba 82010-330, Brazil
Thais C. Morata: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
Simone Roggia: Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88030-300, Brazil
Fernanda Zucki: Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88030-300, Brazil
Benoît Pouyatos: Institut National de Recherche et Sécurité (INRS), 54519 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
Thomas Venet: Institut National de Recherche et Sécurité (INRS), 54519 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
Edward Krieg: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
Maria Renata José: Post Graduate Program of Communication Disorders, University Tuiuti of Paraná, Curitiba 82010-330, Brazil
Adriana B. M. de Lacerda: Audiology Department, Speech Language and Audiology School, Medicine Faculty, University of Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: This study aimed to assess temporary and permanent auditory effects associated with occupational coexposure to low levels of noise and solvents. Cross-sectional study with 25 printing industry workers simultaneously exposed to low noise (<80 dBA TWA) and low levels of solvents. The control group consisted of 29 industry workers without the selected exposures. Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent auditory tests. Auditory fatigue was measured by comparing the acoustic reflex threshold before and after the workday. Workers coexposed to solvents and noise showed significantly worse results in auditory tests in comparison with the participants in the control group. Auditory brainstem response results showed differences in III–V interpeak intervals ( p = 0.046 in right ear; p = 0.039 in left ear). Mean dichotic digits scores (exposed = 89.5 ± 13.33; controls = 96.40 ± 4.46) were only different in the left ear ( p = 0.054). The comparison of pre and postacoustic reflex testing indicated mean differences ( p = 0.032) between the exposed (4.58 ± 6.8) and controls (0 ± 4.62) groups. This study provides evidence of a possible temporary effect (hearing fatigue) at the level of the acoustic reflex of the stapedius muscle. The permanent effects were identified mainly at the level of the high brainstem and in the auditory ability of binaural integration.

Keywords: hearing loss; hearing fatigue; ototoxicity; chemical; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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