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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Association between blood volatile organic aromatic compound concentrations and hearing loss in US adults

Authors: Senlin Wang, Jing Luo, Fang Zhang, Ruimin Zhang, Wantao Ju, Nianwei Wu, Jianhui Zhang, Yanjun Liu

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Objective

Benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, collectively referred to as benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BEX), constitute the main components of volatile organic aromatic compounds (VOACs) and can have adverse effects on human health. The relationship between exposure to BEX and hearing loss (HL) in the adult U.S. population was aimed to be assessed.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2003–2004, 2011–2012, and 2015–2016 were analyzed. This dataset included complete demographic characteristics, pure-tone audiometry measurements, and volatile organic compound detection data from the NHANES database. A weighted multivariate logistic regression model was employed to investigate the associations between blood BEX concentrations HL, low-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL).

Results

2174 participants were included, with weighted prevalence rates of HL, SFHL, and HFHL being 46.81%, 25.23%, and 45.86%, respectively. Exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, and cumulative BEX concentrations increased the risk of hearing loss (odds ratios [ORs] were 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.23, and 1.31, respectively; all P < 0.05). In the analysis with SFHL as the outcome, ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, benzene, and overall BEX increased the risk (OR 1.26, 1.21, 1.28, 1.20, and 1.25, respectively; all P < 0.05). For HFHL, exposure to ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, benzene, and overall BEX increased the risk (OR 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.22, and 1.31, respectively; all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study indicated that a positive correlation between individual or cumulative exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene and the risk of HL, SFHL, and HFHL. Further research is imperative to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which organic compounds, notably BEX, in causing hearing loss and to validate these findings in longitudinal environmental studies.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Association between blood volatile organic aromatic compound concentrations and hearing loss in US adults
Authors
Senlin Wang
Jing Luo
Fang Zhang
Ruimin Zhang
Wantao Ju
Nianwei Wu
Jianhui Zhang
Yanjun Liu
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18065-0

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