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Protect from ototoxins

CHEMICALS

Some chemicals are ototoxins because they can harm hearing. The effect is made worse if combined with loud noise.

 

Chemical induced ototoxicity is due to repeated inhalation and skin absorption of harmful chemicals at doses higher than safe limits

Ototoxic chemicals can cause different types of harm

  • Neurotoxicants - Damage nerve fibers that interfere with hearing and balance

  • Cochleotoxicants - Affect cochlear hair cells, which are the sensory receptors, and damage ability to hear

  • Vestibulotoxicants - Affect hair cells on spatial orientation and balance organs

 

Ototoxic chemicals can be used as part of occupational or personal activities

  • SOLVENTS: Carbon disulfide, n-hexane, toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, styrene and methylstyrene, trichloroethylene

  • ASPHYXIANTS: Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and its salts, tobacco smoke

  • NITRILES: 3-Butenenitrile, cis-2-pentenenitrile, acrylonitrile, cis-crotononitrile, 3,3’-iminodipropionitrile

  • METALS and COMPOUNDS: Mercury compounds, germanium dioxide, organic tin compounds, lead

  • MAY BE OTOTOXIC: Cadmium, arsenic, bromates, halogenated hydrocarbons, insecticides, alkylic compounds, and manganese

 

Ototoxic chemicals can be used in several industries

  • Fabricated metal

  • Machinery

  • Leather and allied product

  • Textile and apparel

  • Petroleum

  • Paper (including printing)

  • Chemical (including paint)

  • Plastics and rubber products

  • Furniture and related product

  • Transportation equipment (e.g., ship and boat building)

  • Electrical equipment, appliance and component (e.g., batteries)

  • Solar cell

  • Mining

  • Oil and gas extraction

  • Utilities

  • Construction

  • Agriculture

  • Public safety

  • Specialty trade contractors

  • Non-store retailers

  • Small stores (sporting goods, hobby, books)

  • Amusement, gambling, and recycling industry waste management. and remediation services

 

Being exposed to both loud noise and ototoxic chemicals include

  • Printing

  • Painting

  • Construction

  • Manufacturing jobs in the industries listed above

  • Fueling vehicles and aircraft

  • Firefighting

  • Weapons firing

  • Pesticide spraying

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What you can do

  • Check label of chemical for information

  • Check if you can use a different chemical

  • Protect by using Personal Protective Equipment like gloves, masks

  • Use chemicals in a well-ventilated space

  • Remove sources of loud sounds in the space

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MEDICATIONS

Some medications, OTC and prescription, can also harm hearing - as a side effect. The effect is made worse if combined with loud noise.

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Harm can be due to high dose, repeated dosing, over a long period of time and other complications such as kidney failure that causes drug buildup in body​

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The table below lists generic names and the medical condition for these medications are commonly prescribed or available as OTC. There are several hundred brand names associated with these drugs.​​​​​​​

Acetazolamide - Edema

Acetaminophen - Pain, fever

Alendronic acid - Osteoporosis

Amikacin - Bacterial infections

Amphotericin B - Fungal infections

Artemether - Malaria

Aspirin - Pain, fever

Avanafil - Erectile dysfunction

Azithromycin - Mycobacterial infections

Bismuth subsalicylate - Diarrhea

Boceprevir - Hepatitis C

Bortezomib - Cancer

Bromocriptine - Acromegaly, Parkinson’s

Bumetanide - Edema

Carboplatin - Cancer

Celecoxib - Pain

Chlormethine - Cancer

Cisplatin - Cancer

Clonazepam - Seizure, panic

Cyclosporine - Organ transplantation

Docetaxel - Cancer

Deferasirox - Iron overload

Deferiprone - Iron overload

Deferoxamine - Iron overload

Ethacrynic acid - Edema

Enalapril - High blood pressure

Erythromycin - Bacterial infection

Febuxostat - Gout

Fenoprofen - Arthritis, Pain

Flumazenil - Drowsiness

Furosemide - Edema

Gabapentin - Neuralgia

Gentamicin - Bacterial infection

Hydroxychloroquine - Malaria

Ibuprofen - Pain

Interferon alpha - Hepatitis C

Isotretinoin - Acne

Itraconazole - Fungal infection 

Kanamycin - Bacterial infection

Leuprolide - Cancer

Meropenem - Bacterial infection

Mefloquine - Malaria

Naproxen - Arthritis

Neomycin - Bacterial infection

Nicotine - Smoking cessation

Nilotinib - Cancer

Ofloxacin - Ear infection

Plazomicin - Urinary tract infection

Pramipexole - Parkinson’s disease

Quinine - Malaria

Ribavirin/Intron A - Hepatitis C

Rivastigmine - Dementia

Ropinirole - Parkinson’s disease

Ropivacaine - Anesthesia

Sildenafil - Erectile dysfunction

Sodium valproate - Epilepsy  

Streptomycin - Bacterial infection

Sumatriptan - Migraine

Tacrolimus - Transplant

Tadalafil - Erectile dysfunction

Teprotumumab - Thyroid eye disease

Terbinafine - Fungal infection

Thalidomide - Cancer

Tobramycin - Bacterial infection

Topiramate - Seizure

Vancomycin - Bacterial infection

Valproic acid - Seizure

Vardenafil - Erectile dysfunction

Verteporfin - Eye disorder

Vinblastine - Cancer

Vincristine - Cancer

Vinorelbine - Cancer

Viomycin - Tuberculosis

Zoledronic acid - Osteoporosis

Self-checking is important for preventing and protecting from ototoxicants

  • Check your prescription and OTC medicines for this side effect

  • Check is there are alternatives, discuss with your doctor

  • Check if you are exposed to ototoxicants and loud noise at the same time - lower sound volume, use hearing protect

 

CHECK if you are using ototoxic chemicals or medications

CHECK if you can use alternatives, discuss with your doctor

Protect from exposure

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USE ATLAS Resonate App to control listening to loud sounds to prevent the effect from getting worse

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