Abstract
Ototoxicity of organic solvents can affect the hearing system up to the cochlea level and the central structures of hearing. ObjectiveTo evaluate the neurophysiological integrity of the hearing system in subjects exposed to fuels using ABR. MethodProspective study. We evaluated attendants from three gas stations in Santa Maria/RS. The sample had 21 subjects, who were evaluated by auditory brainstem response. ResultsWe found an alteration in the absolute latencies of Waves I and III and in all the interpeak latencies, in the right ear. In the left ear there was a change in the absolute latencies of all Waves, and in all the interpeak intervals. A change in the interaural difference of Wave V was found in 19% of the individuals. In the group exposed for more than five years, there were subjects with a statistically significant changes: in the I-V interpeak of the right ear; in the absolute latency of Wave I and in the III-V interpeak of the left year. ConclusionExposure to fuels can cause alterations in the central hearing system.
Highlights
Literature has shown that the ototoxicity of organic solvents may reach the auditory system, at a cochlear level, but it may affect the central structures of hearing
On the right ear we found changes in the absolute latencies of waves I and III; notwithstanding, the absolute latency of waves I and III, the wave V absolute latency was normal in all the individuals assessed
We observed changes in all the latencies of the interpeak intervals on the right ear: I-III (38.1% of the individuals), III-V (4.8% of the individuals) and I-V (14.3% of the individuals), where the I-III interpeak interval had the highest number of individuals with changes, without a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between the number of patients with change and those without change in this interval
Summary
Literature has shown that the ototoxicity of organic solvents may reach the auditory system, at a cochlear level, but it may affect the central structures of hearing.The effects of some neurotoxic substances may appear only after repeated exposures along weeks or even years, such as for example, regular breathing the vapors from a solvent in the work place[1].Each body system may be affected in a different way by toxic substances; the nervous system is vulnerable. Contrary to other cells which make up the body, neurons usually do not regenerate, since the damage caused by toxic agents to the brain or spinal cord, is usually permanent[1]. It has been noticed in rats and in human beings that the higher concentration of toluene happens in the brainstem[2]. This fact proves that organic solvents can cross the blood-brain barrier after inhalation, and produce CNS effects similar to those from alcohol and benzodiazepines[3]
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