Hearing Loss Induced For Pesticides in A Rural Worker: A Case Report - Hearing Loss Induced For Pesticides in A Rural Worker: A Case Report - Open Access Pub

The use of pesticides by agricultural workers without protection can damage the hearing. This report describes the characteristics of work with pesticides, and compares the results of high-frequency audiometry over 36 months. DOI10.14302/issn.2379-8572.joa-16-1416 The World Health Organization reported that 23% of global deaths are due to modifiable environmental factors in that use of pesticides are included1. Work in agriculture poses risks to rural workers when they are routinely exposed to pesticides. The occupational hearing loss has been mostly only attributed to noise although there are other agents that might contribute to its potentiation, among them pesticides2, 10. Studies have linked exposure to otoagressives agents, noise and ototoxics, at higher frequencies above 8kHz, before the others11, 12, 13. Studies reported harmful effects of pesticides to peripheral and central auditory pathways and in which the organophosphates can also be responsible for neurotoxicity to the auditory system2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. In this report, will be presented a rural worker case exposed to pesticides. High-frequency audiometry was measured and the results were compared over a period of 36 months. A 25-year-old family worker male reported regular and concurrent exposure to insecticides organophosphates, herbicide glyphosate, spraying weekly during four years. No individual protection equipament was identified. There was no report of previous otologic or metabolic disease, use of ototoxic medication, surgery or head trauma, social exposure to intense noise, use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs regularly. All ear canal inspection, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), pure tone audiometry at 0.5K, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 6K and 8KHz, were normal. All tympanometry tests were Jerger’s Type “A” and acoustics reflex threshold were presents during 36 months. Pure-tone air audiometry was done with the frequencies of 0,5K, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 6K and 8KHz and high-frequency audiometry at 9K, 10K, 11K, 12.5K, 14K, 16K, 18K and 20KHz, in ambient acording requirements of ISO 8253-1. The high-frequency audiometry was performed at four different moments: baseline, after 12, 24 and after 36 months. The results of initial tests and in the first year was normal, ie, conventional audiometry was close to normal and high-frequency audiometry revealed similar configuration. In the course of months, the rural worker showed no health change worthy of note or otologic complications. He was subjected to the same tests during the period. The results were normal in both ears, except in