When it comes to health and safety, we often prioritize factors like nutrition, exercise and mental well-being. Hearing safety is usually overlooked. You may not realize standard household cleaners can be one of the things that jeopardize your hearing.
According to the CDC, certain chemicals, known as ototoxicants, or ototoxic chemicals, can harm various parts of the ear, resulting in hearing loss. In some instances, chemical exposure can increase the sensitivity of ears to noise-related damage.
Ototoxic Chemicals
There are numerous chemicals in our household that contain ototoxicants capable of damaging our hearing. The degree of hearing loss caused by ototoxic chemicals depends on how often, how much and how long you’re exposed.
Exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion via contaminated food and beverages or by being absorbed through the skin. Once in the bloodstream, these chemicals can harm the inner ear and the nerves responsible for transmitting sound to the brain.
Hazardous chemicals include:
• Benzene—found in plastics, paints, cleaning products
• Carbon disulfide—used in pesticides
• Carbon monoxide—emitted by vehicles, gas-powered tools
• Styrene—used in plastics
• Toluene—found in paints, adhesives
• Xylene—present in paints, paint thinners
• Trichloroethylene—used in paints, pesticides, rug and spot cleaners
Knowing which chemicals are harmful enables you to make informed choices when purchasing cleaning supplies from grocers such as Market 365.
Avoiding Exposure
Several measures can be taken to prevent exposure and safeguard your hearing from chemical-induced damage. Always read the labels on solvents and cleaning products when shopping and select safer alternatives.
Other ways to avoid exposure include:
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, goggles, and gloves, when handling products containing hazardous chemicals.
• Enhancing ventilation in the areas where you’re working and storing these chemicals.
• Appropriately disposing of chemicals.
For more information on hearing loss or to schedule a hearing test, please contact ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia.