Neuro-ototoxicity in Andean adults with chronic lead and noise exposure.

2003

Leo Buchanan
[email protected]
774-455-4014

Brainstem auditory evoked responses and audiological thresholds were used as biomarkers for neuro-ototoxicity in adults with chronic Pb intoxication from long-term Pb exposure in ceramic glazing work. Venous blood samples collected from 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) indicated a mean blood Pb (PbB) level of 45.1 µg/dL (SD: 19.5; range: 11.2 – 80.0 µg/dL) and in excess of the WHO health-based biological limits (males: 46.2 µg/dL, SD: 19.6, range: 18.3 – 80.0 µg/dL; females: 44.0 µg/dL, SD: 20.1; range: 11.2 - 74.2 µg/dL. Mean auditory thresholds at frequencies susceptible to ototoxicity (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 kHz) revealed sensory-neural hearing loss in men which may be attributable to occupational noise exposure in combination with Pb intoxication. Bilateral brainstem auditory evoked response tests on participants with elevated PbB levels (mean: 47.0 µg/dL) showed delayed wave latencies consistent with sensory-neural hearing impairment. The results suggest that environmental noise exposure must be considered an important factor in determining sensory-neural hearing status in occupationally Pb-exposed adults.

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals Published/In Press

N/A