Your Hearing Can be Injured by These Chemicals

Many people are familiar with the common causes of hearing loss but don't comprehend the hazards that everyday chemicals present to their hearing. While there are numerous groups of people in danger, those in industries including textiles, petroleum, automotive, plastics, and metal fabrication have greater exposure. Your quality of life can be enhanced by recognizing what these chemicals are and how to be protected.

Why Are Select Chemicals Harmful to Your Hearing?

Something that has a toxic effect on the nerves of the ears or the ears themselves is known as ototoxic. At home or in the workplace, individuals can come in contact with ototoxic chemicals. They might absorb these chemicals through the skin, ingest, or inhale them. These chemicals, once they're absorbed into the body, will travel into the ear, affecting the sensitive nerves. The resulting hearing loss may be temporary or permanent, and the effect is worse when noise exposure is also at high levels.

Five types of chemicals that can be hazardous to your hearing have been recognized by OSHA or the Occupation Safety and Health Administration:

• Pharmaceuticals – Drugs like diuretics, antibiotics, and analgesics can cause damage to your hearing. Any worries about medication that you might be taking should be talked over with your doctor and your hearing care specialist.
• Metals and Compounds – Metals like lead and mercury have other harmful effects on the body, but they can also lead to hearing loss. People in the fabricated metal or furniture industries could be exposed to these metals frequently.
• Asphyxiants – Asphyxiants decrease the amount of oxygen in the air, and consist of things like tobacco smoke and carbon monoxide. Unsafe levels of these chemicals can be produced by vehicles, gas tools, stoves and other appliances.
• Nitriles – Nitriles such as 3-Butenenitrile and acrylonitrile are used to make products such as automotive rubber and seals, super glue, and latex gloves. Even though your hearing can be damaged by these nitrile based chemicals, they have the advantage of repelling water.
• Solvents – Specific industries including plastics and insulation use solvents such as styrene and carbon disulfide in manufacturing. If you work in these fields, speak with your workplace safety officer about how much exposure you may have, and wear all of your safety equipment.

If You Are Exposed to These Ototoxic Chemicals, What Should You do?

Taking precautions is the trick to safeguarding your hearing. If you work in a sector such as automotive, fire-fighting, plastics, pesticide spraying, or construction, ask your employer about levels of exposure to these chemicals. Make certain you use every safety material your job supplies, such as protective garment, gloves, and masks.

When you are home, read all safety labels on products and follow the instructions 100 percent. Use correct ventilation, including opening windows, and staying away from any chemicals or asking for help if you can't understand any of the labels. Noise and chemicals can have a cumulative impact on your hearing, so if you are around both simultaneously, take additional precautions. If you can't avoid chemicals or are on medications, make sure you have routine hearing exams so you can try to nip any problems in the bud. Hearing specialists have experience with the numerous causes of hearing loss and can help you put together a plan to avoid further damage.