Can Air Pollution Affect Our Hearing Abilities?

It’s common knowledge that loud sounds can damage your hearing, leaving you with permanent hearing loss. However, it’s not the only cause. Certain medications, impact to the head and even chronic ear infections can damage the tiny cells in our inner ear which transmit sound from the ear to the brain. One surprising cause that many don’t realize is that the very air we breathe can put our hearing at risk.

What is Air Pollution?

A common description of air pollution is “the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials”. Air pollution not only makes it hard to breathe but increases the temperature of the planet, by trapping the sun’s heat, causing the polar ice caps to melt and ocean levels to rise. It can also cause unpredictable weather patterns. While some causes of air pollution are naturally occurring such as the eruption of a volcano, or forest fires, many are made by human industry such as manufacturing and exhaust from power plants and automobile fumes. These are the most common air pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur oxides and not only can they make it hard to breath, and increase the risk of lung-based cancers, but a recent study has connected higher exposures to higher rates of hearing loss!

A 2020 Study on Air Pollution

A 2020  Taiwanese study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health examined the effects of air pollution on hearing. By accessing information from 74 ambient air quality monitoring stations across Taiwan, the researchers measured the annual concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air to determine which areas had the highest and lowest levels of common air pollutants.

They then cross referenced this information with a from a national 20-year health survey including 75,500 people to understand how hearing loss and air pollution overlapped.

Alarming Findings About the Environmental Impact of Air Pollution 

Alarmingly, in areas with the highest concentration of air pollution, rates of hearing loss were significantly high as well. Meanwhile it seemed that rates were much lower in areas with cleaner air.

To be more specific they looked at different polluting chemicals in the air and determined that those who were exposed to high levels of nitrogen dioxide air pollution were 1.63 times more likely to have hearing and those who were exposed to higher rates of carbon monoxide had a 1.45 greater risk of hearing loss than those who were not living in an area with a high concentration of these air pollutants.

Why Does Air Pollution Affect Hearing?

We understand that there is a risk but why? Well, these common air pollutants are chemicals which are classified as ototoxic. Ototoxic chemicals can deprive oxygen from reaching the tiny cells of the inner ear. These cells are the sole delivery system from the ears to the brain. 

Clean Air for Clearer Hearing

Knowing the levels of air pollution in your home is the first step in prevention. You can often check the air quality along with most weather services these days. In your own home, investing in a high-quality air purifier can lower the risk of outside contamination. Not only will this help you to breathe better but can make sure you can hear for years to come.

Treating Hearing Loss

With the risk of lung cancer and global warming as risks of unsafe air, hearing loss may seem like the least of your worries. However, we assure you that hearing loss is more serious than you may suspect. What starts as simple miscommunications can escalate if untreated into rifts in your closest relationships, loss of earnings, issues learning new skills, social isolation, loneliness, chronic depression, cognitive decline, dementia and a higher risk of falls and accidents.

Schedule a Hearing Exam

If you’ve noticed signs of hearing loss, such as having to ask people to repeat themselves frequently, issues hearing over the phone or that people sound muffled when they speak, then it is time to take action around hearing loss. Addressing a hearing loss now can keep you clear, active and healthy for years to come. Contact us today to schedule your next hearing exam.