EVALUATION OF THE AUDITORY SYSTEM OF FARM WORKERS EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES Avaliação do sistema auditivo em agricultores expostos à agrotóxicos

Conflict of interest: non existent certain cognitive and emotional aspects2-4. This kind of handicap hinders access to and use of healthcare in general, yielding potential adverse effects on health and survival5. The prevalence of hearing loss is on the rise in the population at large, probably because of the ageing of the population and increased exposure to noise. There are concerns that hearing impairment may take on epidemic proportions6. Hearing loss is generally associated with ageing, exposure to noise, and head injuries. Hearing loss induced by high sound pressure levels is one of the most widespread irreversible work-related ailments in the world7, described in many scientific studies. Occupational hearing loss is a term that is widely used as a synonym for noise-induced hearing loss, but apart from noise, many other work-related activities can put hearing at risk, such as chemicals which in isolation or in combination with noise may trigger or exacerbate the risk to workers’ health 8,9. Many studies have shown that chemicals can cause damage to human beings and the environment. While the main focus of studies into auditory health is still noise exposure, there are an „ INTRODUCTION