Amanda M Staudt1,2, Kristina W Whitworth3, Lung-Chang Chien4, Lawrence W Whitehead5, David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras3,6,7. 1. Systems of Care for Complex Patients (SCCP) Task Area, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3698 Chambers Pass, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA. amanda.m.staudt2.ctr@mail.mil. 2. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health in San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA. amanda.m.staudt2.ctr@mail.mil. 3. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health in San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA. 4. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA. 5. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. 6. Center for Research in Occupational Health (CISAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. 7. CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Exposure to organic solvents and noise may be causal agents in the development of hearing loss and tinnitus. The objectives of the present study were to examine the association of organic solvents with hearing loss and tinnitus and to assess the interaction of organic solvent and occupational noise exposure on hearing loss and tinnitus. METHODS: A secondary data analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Occupational Information Network (O*NET) among a study population ranging from 1085 to 2471 study participants from 1999 to 2004. Multiple multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of individual organic solvent exposures as measured by blood biomarkers (1,4-dichlorobenzene, benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, o-xylene, and m-/p-xylene) with self-reported hearing loss, audiometrically assessed hearing loss, and self-reported tinnitus. Models were adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, diabetes, non-occupational noise exposure, smoking, and income. Organic solvents found to be statistically significantly associated with the outcome after adjusting for covariates were tested for interaction with occupational noise exposure. RESULTS: Solvent exposure was not statistically significantly associated with self-reported tinnitus. Benzene (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.15-1.78), ethylbenzene (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.50), and toluene (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.52) concentrations were statistically significantly associated with increased adjusted odds of high-frequency hearing loss. No statistically significant interaction was observed between these solvents and occupational noise on high-frequency hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of an association between organic solvents and tinnitus; however, there was evidence of an association between organic solvent exposure and prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss.
PURPOSE: Exposure to organic solvents and noise may be causal agents in the development of hearing loss and tinnitus. The objectives of the present study were to examine the association of organic solvents with hearing loss and tinnitus and to assess the interaction of organic solvent and occupational noise exposure on hearing loss and tinnitus. METHODS: A secondary data analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Occupational Information Network (O*NET) among a study population ranging from 1085 to 2471 study participants from 1999 to 2004. Multiple multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of individual organic solvent exposures as measured by blood biomarkers (1,4-dichlorobenzene, benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, o-xylene, and m-/p-xylene) with self-reported hearing loss, audiometrically assessed hearing loss, and self-reported tinnitus. Models were adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, diabetes, non-occupational noise exposure, smoking, and income. Organic solvents found to be statistically significantly associated with the outcome after adjusting for covariates were tested for interaction with occupational noise exposure. RESULTS: Solvent exposure was not statistically significantly associated with self-reported tinnitus. Benzene (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.15-1.78), ethylbenzene (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02-1.50), and toluene (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.52) concentrations were statistically significantly associated with increased adjusted odds of high-frequency hearing loss. No statistically significant interaction was observed between these solvents and occupational noise on high-frequency hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of an association between organic solvents and tinnitus; however, there was evidence of an association between organic solvent exposure and prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss.
Authors: Thais C Morata; Ann-Christin Johnson; Per Nylen; Eva B Svensson; Jun Cheng; Edward F Krieg; Ann-Cathrine Lindblad; Lena Ernstgård; John Franks Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Benjamin C Blount; Robert J Kobelski; David O McElprang; David L Ashley; John C Morrow; David M Chambers; Frederick L Cardinali Journal: J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci Date: 2006-02-21 Impact factor: 3.205