“Organic” Isn’t Necessarily Good For You

Sometimes it's easy to identify dangers to your ears: a roaring jet engine or loud equipment. It's not hard to convince people to protect their ears when they recognize that they will be around loud sounds. But what if your ears could be damaged by an organic compound? After all, if something is organic, doesn't that necessarily mean it's good for you? How could something that's organic be just as bad for your hearing as loud noise?

An Organic Compound You Wouldn't Want to Eat

To clarify, these organic compounds are not something you can pick up in the produce section of your grocery store nor would you want to. According to recent (and some not-so-recent) research published by European scholars, chemicals called organic solvents have a strong chance of injuring your hearing even with minimal exposure. It's worthwhile to note that, in this situation, organic doesn't refer to the kind of label you find on fruit in the grocery store. In reality, the word "organic" is used by marketers to make consumers presume a product isn't harmful for them. When food is designated as organic, it means that specific growing methods are employed to keep food from having artificial contaminants. When we mention organic solvents, the term organic is chemistry-related. Within the discipline of chemistry, the word organic represents any compounds and chemicals that consist of bonds between carbon atoms. Carbon atoms can generate all kinds of unique molecules and, consequently, a large number of different useful chemicals. But that doesn't guarantee they aren't potentially dangerous. Millions of workers each year work with organic solvents and they're often exposed to the risks of hearing loss while doing so.

Where do You Find Organic Solvents?

Organic solvents are found in some of the following items:

• Varnishes and paints
• Glues and adhesives
• Degreasing agents
• Cleaning products

You get the point. So, here's the question, will painting (or even cleaning) your bathroom damage your hearing?

Risks Associated With Organic Solvents

According to the most current research out there, the dangers related to organic solvents generally increase the more you're exposed to them. So when you clean your home you will most likely be fine. The biggest risk is to people with the highest degree of contact, in other words, factory workers who develop or make use of organic solvents on a commercial scale. Industrial solvents, especially, have been well investigated and definitively show that exposure can lead to ototoxicity (toxicity to the auditory system). Lab tests that used animals, as well as surveys of people, have both shown this to be the case. Exposure to the solvents can have a negative impact on the outer hair cells of the ear, causing hearing loss in the mid-frequency range. Unfortunately, the ototoxicity of these solvents isn't widely recognized by company owners. Even fewer workers are aware of the dangers. So those workers don't have standardized protocols to protect them. All workers who handle solvents could have hearing screenings on a regular basis and that would be really helpful. These hearing examinations would detect the very earliest signs of hearing loss, and workers could respond appropriately.

You Have to Work

Routine Hearing tests and limiting your exposure to these solvents are the most common suggestions. But first, you have to be mindful of the hazards before you can follow that advice. It's simple when the risks are well known. It's obvious that you should take precautions against the noise of the factory floor and any other loud noises. But when the danger is invisible as is the case for the millions of Americans who work with organic solvents, solutions can be a harder sell. Luckily, continuing research is helping both employees and employers take a safer path. In the meantime, it's a good strategy to try to work with these products in a well-ventilated place and to wear masks. It would also be a practical idea to get your ears checked by a hearing specialist.