Ototoxic Exposure: Risk Of Hearing Loss Due to Noise & Chemicals

While it’s well-known that work-related hearing loss usually is caused by noise, what isn’t nearly as widely-recognised is that on-going exposure to some widely used chemicals increases the risk of hearing loss, particularly in noisy workplaces. Yet both animal experiments and human studies suggest that workers exposed to some chemicals suffer "ototoxic" effects – a fancy word scientists use to describe damage to both the hearing and balance functions of the ear.

Both businesses and government institutions are being warned of widely-used chemicals already known to cause possible hearing problems:

• Benzene
• Carbon disulfide
• Carbon monoxide
• Ethylbenzene
• Hydrogen cyanide
• Lead
• Mercury
• n-Hexane
• Solvent mixtures
• Styrene
• Trichloroethylene
• Toluene
• Xylene

The fastest way to cut down the risk from noise is issuing disposable polyurethane foam earplugs or earmuffs.

The second step is to have sound meters available throughout a plant.

Plants are easily and inexpensively retrofitted with sound baffles as an additional safeguard around areas where noise is especially intense.

Finally, any worker exposed to toxic chemicals along with noise needs additional protection. CHEMSPLASH™ combines the economy of micro-porous technology with a surface augmented by micro-membranes. So, its Hybrid Breathable Membrane System is a transformed barrier which retains "breathability" but is highly resistant to penetration to a broad group of dangerous, noxious and poisonous chemicals. It’s the first protective material to incorporate barrier resistance providing continuous outward moisture vapour transmission to minimize the potential for heat stress.

Beyond this, be sure to have a hearing conservation programme even for workers at lower levels of noise exposure than required by OSHA rules. Include workers exposed to chemicals in hearing conservation programs, whether or not they are exposed to noise.