Effects of Noise Associated with Pesticides in the Hearing and Vestibular Systems of Endemic Disease Combat Agents

Abstract

The current study aimed to assess the effect of the concomitant exposure to noise and pesticides on the auditory and vestibular systems of endemic disease combat agents. The sample comprised 58 participants, males, divided into two groups. The exposed group (EG) comprised 40 agents, adults, exposed to the noise and pesticides. The control group (CG) comprised 18 participants, without exposure, paired according to age range and gender. The participants from both groups underwent conventional pure-tone audiometry and high-frequency audiometry, evoked otoacoustic emissions and suppression of the emissions, immittance testing, brainstem evoked response audiometry, and dichotic digits test. The vestibular assessment was only carried out in the experimental group. Results showed no difference between the groups in the findings of the pure-tone audiometry and suppression effect of the evoked otoacoustic emissions. Difference was evidenced between the groups in the acoustic reflex testing, the tympanometry, the brainstem evoked response audiometry, and the dichotic digits test, with worse results among the EG. In the vestibular assessment, there was the prevalence of altered tests among EG in 36.4% of the cases, more evidence for the peripheral vestibular dysfunction. In conclusion, noise and pesticide exposure impaired the auditory and vestibular systems of endemic disease control agents.