Ototoxic chemicals can impair the sense of hearing and balance. Lately, efforts have been intensifi ed to compile evidence-based lists of workplace agents with ototoxic properties. This article gives a rough overview of the latest relevant publications, which confi rm that toluene, styrene, and lead should receive particular attention as ototoxic substances at the workplace. Moreover, there is suffi cient evidence that occupational exposure to trichloroethylene, mercury, carbon monoxide, and carbon disulfi de can affect the ear. Based on the existing information, industrial hygienists should make sure that occupational health professionals and the workforce are made aware of the risks posed by ototoxic substances; support their replacement or new technical measures to reduce exposure; make these substances a part of regular screening, develop tools that can early diagnose chemically induced hearing impairment, and investigate further into the ototoxic properties of these substances. Further research should focus on quantifying the combined effects of ototoxic substances and noise.
Die Forderung nach Folgeabschätzungen für Rechtsnormen hat das Anwendungsspektrum von Kosten-Nutzen-Analysen verbreitert. So zeichnen sich Bestrebungen ab, die Höhe von Luftgrenzwerten für Gefahrstoffe am Arbeitsplatz auch von Simulationsrechnungen abhängig zu machen, die erforderliche Investitionen für Expositionsminderungsmaßnahmen mit den erwartbaren positiven Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit der Belegschaft saldieren. Die philosophisch-rechtliche Bewertung solcher Praktiken belegt einen inhärenten Konflikt zwischen utilitaristischen Optimierungsstrategien und deontologischer Pflichtethik. Am Beispiel risikobasierter Expositionsbegrenzungen für krebserzeugende Arbeitsstoffe wird versucht zu zeigen, dass solche Kosten-Nutzen-Analysen sich nicht nur technisch schwierig gestalten, sondern auch fundamentale Werte wie Gerechtigkeit und Menschenwürde verletzen.
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