Environmental Lead Exposure and Otoacoustic Emissions in Andean Children

Overview

Journal J Toxicol Environ Health A

Specialties Environmental Health
Toxicology

Date 2011 Aug 12

PMID 21830857

Citations 6

Authors

Leo H Buchanan

S Allen Counter

Fernando Ortega

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Studies relating sensory hearing impairment to lead (Pb) exposure in children have presented inconsistent results. The objective of this study was to measure distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), sounds emanating from the outer hair cells of the inner ear, in Pb-exposed children to determine the effects of Pb poisoning on the inner ear. DPOAE were recorded for 9 f(2) frequencies from 1187 to 7625 Hz on 102 ears of 53 Pb-exposed children (aged 6-16 yr) residing in Pb-contaminated environments in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador where Pb glazing of ceramics is the primary livelihood. Blood lead (PbB) levels ranged from 4.2 to 94.3 μg/dl (mean: 37.7; SD: 25.7; median: 36.4). The median PbB level was markedly higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) 10-μg/dl action level. Spearman rho correlation analyses of the relation between PbB level and DPOAE amplitude and between PbB level and DPOAE signal-to-noise ratio revealed no significant associations at any of the f(2) frequencies tested. In addition, no significant correlation (Spearman rho) between PbB level and hearing sensitivity for 6 pure-tone test frequencies from 1000 to 8000 Hz was found. Although the study group was found to have abnormally elevated PbB levels, in contrast to some earlier reports, the results of the current study showed no consistent Pb-induced sensory effects on the cochlea of Pb-intoxicated children.

Citing Articles

Chemical characterization of baby food consumed in Italy.

Meli M, Desideri D, Sisti D, Fagiolino I, Roselli C PLoS One. 2024; 19(2):e0297158.

PMID: 38386635 PMC: 10883532. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297158.

Lead Induced Ototoxicity and Neurotoxicity in Adult Guinea Pig.

Zhang Y, Jiang Q, Xie S, Wu X, Zhou J, Sun H Biomed Res Int. 2019; 2019:3626032.

PMID: 30766882 PMC: 6350542. DOI: 10.1155/2019/3626032.

Assessing ototoxicity due to chronic lead and cadmium intake with and without noise exposure in the mature mouse.

Carlson K, Schacht J, Neitzel R J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2018; 81(20):1041-1057.

PMID: 30239325 PMC: 6349363. DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2018.1521320.

The Adverse Effects of Heavy Metals with and without Noise Exposure on the Human Peripheral and Central Auditory System: A Literature Review.

Castellanos M, Fuente A Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016; 13(12).

PMID: 27941700 PMC: 5201364. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13121223.

Lead levels in the breast milk of nursing andean mothers living in a lead-contaminated environment.

Counter S, Buchanan L, Ortega F, Chiriboga R, Correa R, Collaguaso M J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2014; 77(17):993-1003.

PMID: 25072821 PMC: 4373535. DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2014.897281.

References

Baloh R, Spivey G, Brown C, Morgan D, CAMPION D, Browdy B . Subclinical effects of chronic increased lead absorption--a prospective study. II. Results of baseline neurologic testing. J Occup Med. 1979; 21(7):490-6. View

Rosin A . The long-term consequences of exposure to lead. Isr Med Assoc J. 2010; 11(11):689-94. View

Counter S . Brainstem neural conduction biomarkers in lead-exposed children of Andean lead-glaze workers. J Occup Environ Med. 2002; 44(9):855-64. DOI: 10.1097/00043764-200209000-00008. View

Holdstein Y, Pratt H, Goldsher M, Rosen G, Shenhav R, Linn S . Auditory brainstem evoked potentials in asymptomatic lead-exposed subjects. J Laryngol Otol. 1986; 100(9):1031-6. DOI: 10.1017/s0022215100100519. View

Stavroulaki P, Vossinakis I, Dinopoulou D, Doudounakis S, Adamopoulos G, Apostolopoulos N . Otoacoustic emissions for monitoring aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity in children with cystic fibrosis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002; 128(2):150-5. DOI: 10.1001/archotol.128.2.150. View

Otto D, Robinson G, Baumann S, Schroeder S, Mushak P, Kleinbaum D . 5-year follow-up study of children with low-to-moderate lead absorption: electrophysiological evaluation. Environ Res. 1985; 38(1):168-86. DOI: 10.1016/0013-9351(85)90082-9. View

Whitehead M, Martin G . Clinical applications of otoacoustic emissions. J Speech Hear Res. 1991; 34(5):964-81. DOI: 10.1044/jshr.3405.964. View

Chuang H, Kuo C, Chiu Y, Ho C, Chen C, Wu T . A case-control study on the relationship of hearing function and blood concentrations of lead, manganese, arsenic, and selenium. Sci Total Environ. 2007; 387(1-3):79-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.032. View

Lidsky T, Schneider J . Lead neurotoxicity in children: basic mechanisms and clinical correlates. Brain. 2002; 126(Pt 1):5-19. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awg014. View

10.

Kemp D . Stimulated acoustic emissions from within the human auditory system. J Acoust Soc Am. 1978; 64(5):1386-91. DOI: 10.1121/1.382104. View

11.

Lasky R, Maier M, SNODGRASS E, Hecox K, Laughlin N . The effects of lead on otoacoustic emissions and auditory evoked potentials in monkeys. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1995; 17(6):633-44. DOI: 10.1016/0892-0362(95)02006-3. View

12.

Counter S, Buchanan L, Laurell G, Ortega F . Field screening of blood lead levels in remote Andean villages. Neurotoxicology. 1998; 19(6):871-7. View

13.

Lasky R, Luck M, Torre 3rd P, Laughlin N . The effects of early lead exposure on auditory function in rhesus monkeys. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2002; 23(6):639-49. DOI: 10.1016/s0892-0362(01)00175-1. View

14.

Counter S, Buchanan L, Ortega F, Rifai N . Blood lead and hemoglobin levels in Andean children with chronic lead intoxication. Neurotoxicology. 2000; 21(3):301-8. View

15.

Lasky R, Luck M, Laughlin N . The effects of succimer chelation therapy on auditory function in rhesus monkeys. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2002; 23(6):651-8. DOI: 10.1016/s0892-0362(01)00176-3. View

16.

Markowitz M . Lead poisoning. Pediatr Rev. 2000; 21(10):327-35. DOI: 10.1542/pir.21-10-327. View

17.

MOSZYNSKI B . Eight nerve in experimental lead poisoning. Acta Otolaryngol. 1969; 68(1):85-9. DOI: 10.3109/00016486909121546. View

18.

Dietrich K, Succop P, Berger O, Keith R . Lead exposure and the central auditory processing abilities and cognitive development of urban children: the Cincinnati Lead Study cohort at age 5 years. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1992; 14(1):51-6. DOI: 10.1016/0892-0362(92)90028-9. View

19.

Tuncel U, Clerici W, Jones R . Differential ototoxicities induced by lead acetate and tetraethyl lead. Hear Res. 2002; 166(1-2):113-23. DOI: 10.1016/s0378-5955(02)00303-9. View

20.

Park S, Elmarsafawy S, Mukherjee B, Spiro 3rd A, Vokonas P, Nie H . Cumulative lead exposure and age-related hearing loss: the VA Normative Aging Study. Hear Res. 2010; 269(1-2):48-55. PMC: 2934752. DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2010.07.004. View