Tinnitus, affecting 10% to 15% of the global population, is a debilitating condition often linked to hearing loss and neurological disorders. While air pollution is a known risk factor for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, its association with tinnitus remains underexplored.ObjectiveThis study investigates the association between air pollution, polygenic risk score (PRS), and tinnitus...
No immediate change to clinical practice is warranted, but audiologists should be aware that air pollution exposure is emerging as an environmental risk factor for tinnitus, which may inform patient history-taking.
Demonstrating a gene–environment interaction for tinnitus risk elevates air quality from a background concern to a potential modifiable risk factor, with implications for public health policy and preventive audiology.
- 01Composite air pollution exposure was associated with increased tinnitus risk in a large population cohort.