Effects of Gene-Environmental Interaction on Noise-Induced Hearing Threshold Levels for High Frequencies (Htlhf)
Resource
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY v.45 n.17 pp.7128-7134
Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Journal Volume
v.45
Journal Issue
n.17
Pages
7128-7134
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
LIN, CHENG-YU
SHIH, TUNG-SHENG
GUO, YUE-LIANG
WU, JIUNN-LIANG
SUN, YIH-MIN
TSAI, PERNG-JY
Abstract
In this study we assessed the interaction between glutathione S- transferase (GST) genetic polymorphisms and noise exposures, with regard to their effect on the hearing threshold levels for high frequencies ( HTLHF). Research participants comprised 347 male workers, and each participant's cumulative noise exposure was determined using a job- exposure matrix. Approximately 64.6% of the participants' exposure in L(eq -8 h) was above 90 dBA. The mean HTLHF was 32.1 dB. A significant dose- response relationship was found between noise exposure and HTLHF. We further converted the estimated total noise exposure level over each participant's job history to a noise exposure level that corresponded to a 40-year exposure (L(eq-40y)). After we had adjusted the results for age, we found that workers carrying GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and GSTP1 Ile(105)/ Ile(105) genotypes were susceptible to the HTLHF when their L(eq-40y) were above 90 dBA. Therefore, GST genetic polymorphisms might affect HTLHF only when workers are exposed to high noise levels.