Lead May Cause Hearing Loss, Scientists Report
Lead in the environment may be causing American children to suffer mild hearing loss, government scientists said in a study scheduled for release today.
Using data collected on more than 3,000 children and teen-agers, the scientists said children with even low levels of lead were more likely to have subtle hearing losses that can affect the ability to understand speech.
The more lead in the child’s body, the greater the chance of hearing loss, said the study, which was conducted by researchers from the Environmental Protection Agency.
“For the first time, lead has been linked to effects on hearing in the general population,” said David Otto, a staff member of the EPA’s Health Effects Research Laboratory here.
Automobile exhaust from leaded gasoline historically has been the main source of environmental lead in the United States. A recent EPA report also found lead in drinking water from lead-soldered pipes.
Hearing loss was found even when lead was present in the bloodstream below the maximum allowable level set by the national Centers for Disease Control, Otto said.
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