Prestin and otolin-1 proteins in the hearing loss of adults chronically exposed to lead

Some studies in animal models and humans suggest that exposure to lead is associated with hearing loss. Lead can reach the inner ear through the blood circulation; evidence suggests that lead could accumulate in the inner ear, causing inner ear damage. Aim: To evaluate prestin and otolin-1 protein levels and their relationship with an increased hearing threshold in participants exposed to lead. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 315...