Can Air Pollution Affect Our Hearing Abilities?

As we know, many factors can increase your risk of hearing loss. The most direct impact comes from exposure to loud noise, particularly when that noise is present for a duration of time. The louder the noise, the faster the damage can occur. Those who work in factories or other workplaces with regular noise are at the highest risk, so employers are mandated to supply hearing protection and to limit the length of time spent in these locations that have high noise exposure.

Beyond direct exposure to noise, other health factors can raise your risk of hearing loss. Particularly those health conditions that could limit the supply of oxygenated blood to the ears can have the effect of damaging the tiny hairlike organelles of the inner ear called stereocilia. For this reason, many experts recommend healthy lifestyle habits including good nutrition and exercise not only as a way to maintain general wellbeing but also to protect hearing ability.

Beyond these known risks of hearing loss, a recent study from Taiwan identified a hidden factor: air pollution. It seems that those who are exposed to worse air quality were more likely to develop hearing loss. Let’s take a look at the study and consider how public health campaigns might include air pollution in our protective measures against hearing loss.

The Study

A group of researchers in Taiwan led by Kuang-Hsi Chang engaged a study with big data from the National Health Insurance Research Database. This dataset tracks outcomes for 75,767 study participants over age 20 who had no history of sensorineural hearing loss, the most common form. Based on their residence, these study participants were exposed to different levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, two major pollutants.

The researchers divided these people into groups of low, middle, and high exposure to air pollution. The results demonstrated that those who were exposed to higher levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide had significantly higher rates of sensorineural hearing loss. Long-term exposure also led to an even higher rate of sensorineural hearing loss. The researchers controlled for some factors such as gender and age that might lead to higher rates, but they did not control for many other factors that might confound the results.

For instance, it is quite likely that another unobserved variable influenced hearing loss, such as exposure to noise in urban areas. The correlation between noise pollution and air pollution means that more research is necessary in this area to determine a direct correlation between air pollution and hearing loss. 

The Implications

What do these findings mean for our public health policies and campaigns? Air pollution has been correlated with a wide range of respiratory and other health conditions, and it seems that the higher the exposure to these toxic gases, the worse the health effects. When we add into that equation that hearing loss might be higher among those who are exposed to air pollution, the public health initiatives extend even further.

Many approach the need for better air quality from a perspective of climate science and environmental advocacy. Indeed, our human outcomes are tied to these dynamics of planetary health. In addition to focusing on the health of Mother Earth, public officials can use the perspective of human health, including hearing ability, when advocating for better air quality measures and regulation. When we consider the possibility that not only our respiratory health is suffering due to high levels of toxic gases but that we also might be incurring higher levels of hearing loss as a result, the choice is clear.

In addition to advocating for better air quality through public health campaigns, we can advocate for better hearing health on a personal level, as well. If you or someone you love has untreated hearing loss, the time is now to seek a hearing test.

Hearing loss is related to many other physical, mental, and cognitive problems, but the sooner you seek treatment, the better these outcomes can be. Why not take the opportunity today to encourage your loved one to make the appointment? Once you have knowledge of baseline hearing ability, it will be clear when the time has come to get assistance.