Association of plasma lead, cadmium, and selenium levels with hearing loss in adults: NHANES 2011-2012.

To determine the association between hearing loss and environmental lead, cadmium, and selenium exposure, a total of 1503 American adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2011∼2012) were assessed. The average of 4 audiometric frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) was used to identify speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), while the average of 3 audiometric frequencies (3, 4, and 6 kHz) was used to identify high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). HFHL adjusted Odds ratios (ORs) determined by comparing the highest and lowest blood lead and cadmium quartiles were 1.98 (95%CI: 1.27, 3.10) and 1.81 (95%CI: 1.13, 2.90), respectively. SFHL was significant associated with blood cadmium with the OR = 2.42 for the highest quartile. When further stratified by age, this association appeared to be limited to adults aged 35-52 years. After stratified by gender, except for lead and cadmium, we observed that blood selenium showed a dose-dependent association with SFHL in men. In women, only cadmium showed a dose-dependent association with speech and high frequency hearing loss. Hearing loss was positively associated with blood levels of lead and cadmium. Additionally, our study provided novel evidence suggesting that excessive selenium supplement would increase SFHL risk in men.