scholarly journals How Can Low-Frequency Noise Exposure Interact with the Well-Being of a Population? Some Results from a Portuguese Municipality

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 5566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Araújo Alves ◽  
Lígia Torres Silva ◽  
Paula Remoaldo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Exposed Population

Noise pollution is the second most harmful environmental stressor in Europe. Portugal is the fourth European country most affected by noise pollution, whereby 23.0% of the population is affected. This article aims to analyze the effects of exposure to low frequency noise pollution, emitted by power poles and power lines, on the population’s well-being, based on a study of “exposed” and “unexposed” individuals in two predominantly urban areas in north-western Portugal. To develop the research, we used sound level (n = 62) and sound recording measurements, as well as adapted audiometric test performance (n = 14) and surveys conducted with the resident population (n = 200). The sound levels were measured (frequency range between 10 to 160 Hz) and compared with a criterion curve developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The sound recorded was performed 5 m away from the source (400 kV power pole). Surveys were carried out with the “exposed” and “unexposed” populations, and adapted audiometric tests were performed to complement the analysis and to determine the threshold of audibility of “exposed” and “unexposed” volunteers. The “exposed” area has higher sound levels and, consequently, more problems with well-being and health than the “unexposed” population. The audiometric tests also revealed that the “exposed” population appears to be less sensitive to low frequencies than the “unexposed” population.

scholarly journals INFRASOUND AND LOW FREQUENCY NOISE IMMISION FROM PIPELINES. iMPROVING THE ISO 1996-2:2017 PROPOSED METHODS. CASES STUDIES CONDUCTED AT LOS ANDES AND PERUVIAN RAINFOREST

Akustika ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 335-345
Author(s):  
Walter Montano
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Gas Extraction ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Noise Sources ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Continuous Noise ◽  
Amazonian Rainforest

The gas extraction wells are in Amazonian rainforest and by them there are their industrial facilities. The pipeline has about 800 km with four pumps stations and two compressor stations. The challenge of conducting sound measurements was important-there is no specialized literature-and other noise "sources" are howler monkeys, cicadidae chirping, woodpeckers, trees´foliage, etc. However the problem is simply because those fixed industrial facilities are the only ones. People live in isolated hamlet on the side of dirt roads, so they are exposed 24/7 to the continuous noise; at homes 4 km away from the plants the sound level is 60 dBC, but in the spectrum of ILFN tones could not be identified. This Paper presents the procedures that were developed to identify the ILFN tones, improving the methods proposed in ISO 1996-2, writing a software that "automatically eliminates" the sound levels that don´t belong to the industry,

scholarly journals Does Low Frequency Noise at Modarate Levels Influence Human Mental Performance?

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Pawlaczyk-łuszczyńska ◽  
Adam Dudarewicz ◽  
Małgorzata Waszkowska ◽  
Wiesław Szymczak ◽  
Maria Kameduła ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Broadband Noise ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Mental Performance ◽  
Reasoning Test ◽  
Math Reasoning ◽  
Exposure Conditions

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) at levels normally occurring in the industrial control rooms on human mental performance (attention, visual perception and logical reasoning) and subjective well-being. Subjects were 191 male volunteers categorised in terms of subjective sensitivity to noise in general. They performed standardised tests: the Signal Detection Test (test I), the Stroop Colour-Word Test (test II), and two sub-tests of the General Aptitude Test Battery, i.e. the Math Reasoning Test (test III) and the Comparing of Names Test (test IV). Three different acoustic conditions were used in the between-subjects design: the background laboratory noise of about 30 dB(A), LFN, and a broadband noise without dominant low frequency components (reference noise) at 50 dB(A). Each subject was tested only once in random-assigned exposure conditions. Generally, no significant differences in performance related to exposure conditions were noted. Some of the results from test I and test II were influenced by sensitivity to noise. However, there were no significant differences between high- and low-sensitive subjects during exposure to LFN. The annoyance of LFN and reference noise was rated higher than that of the background noise. Subjects highly-sensitive to noise reported higher annoyance due to LFN in comparison with low-sensitives. No significant differences related to noise sensitivity in annoyance assessment of background and reference noises were noted. In conclusion, no effects due to LFN on mental performance compared to background and reference noises were found.

scholarly journals Factors influencing low-frequency noise reduction in typical Chinese dwelling layouts

2020 ◽  
pp. 146134842094297
Author(s):  
Yang Song ◽  
Jian Kang
Keyword(s):  
Noise Reduction ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Noise Source ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Polyline Distance

Existing approaches to reducing the low-frequency noise exposure of dwellings are not always sufficient. This study investigated the significance of dwelling layout design for low-frequency noise control. The sound distribution in six typical Chinese dwelling layouts was analysed using in-situ measurements under steady-state noise of various low frequencies. The results showed that among two-bedroom dwelling layouts, the overall average noise reduction varied considerably (6 dB). The noise reduction for room levels (number of rooms sound crosses) 1–2 and 2–3 varies by 5 and 3 dB, respectively, and the noise reduction at door openings varies by 5 dB. A model to approximate the low-frequency noise reduction of a layout was developed using the polyline distance from the noise source and the number of walls the polyline has to cross, which were clearly shown to influence low-frequency noise reduction and seem to be the strongest investigated factors.

scholarly journals Low-Frequency Noise and Its Main Effects on Human Health—A Review of the Literature between 2016 and 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 5205
Author(s):  
Juliana Araújo Alves ◽  
Filipa Neto Paiva ◽  
Lígia Torres Silva ◽  
Paula Remoaldo
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
Main Effects

This paper summarizes the presently available knowledge about the association between low-frequency noise and its effects on health. A database was constructed with a total of 142 articles published between 2016 and 2019 regarding low-frequency noise exposure and its effects on health. A total of 39 articles were analysed in depth. The articles were divided into categories according to the effects on human health addressed. Regarding the emitting source, there was a greater number of articles addressing issues related to sources of environmental noise and noise from wind turbines. As for the effects generated on human health, there was a greater number of articles referring to the effects on sleep disorders, discomfort, sensitivity to and irritability from noise, annoyance, hearing loss, and cardiovascular diseases, and these effects are analysed in more detail in the present article.

Perceptions of the Public of Low Frequency Noise

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M.J.P. Manley ◽  
P. Styles ◽  
J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
The Public ◽  
Vibration Sensors ◽  
Measuring Devices

This paper describes the results of a series of measurements using a variety of systems comprising vibration sensors and sound-level measuring devices. These were carried out at the homes of people experiencing the effects of low frequency noise and in other environments where low-frequency noise was likely to be generated. Suggestions are made as to the possible reasons for the perception of low-frequency noise by sufferers.

Evaluation of frequency-weighted sound level measurements for prediction of low-frequency noise annoyance

1997 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Kjellberg ◽  
Maria Tesarz ◽  
Kjell Holmberg ◽  
Ulf Landström
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Noise Annoyance

scholarly journals Vestibular short-latency evoked potential abolished by low-frequency noise exposure in rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 662-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Stewart ◽  
Ariane C. Kanicki ◽  
Richard A. Altschuler ◽  
W. M. King
Keyword(s):  
Evoked Potential ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Short Latency ◽  
Head Movements ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Otolith Organs ◽  
Specific Class ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Physiological Basis

The vestibular system plays a critical role in detection of head movements and is essential for normal postural control. Because of their anatomical proximity to the cochlea, the otolith organs are selectively exposed to sound pressure and are at risk for noise overstimulation. Clinical reports suggest a link between noise exposure and balance problems, but the structural and physiological basis for this linkage is not well understood. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of low-frequency noise (LFN) on the otolith organs by correlating changes in vestibular short-latency evoked potentials (VsEPs) with changes in saccular afferent endings following noise exposure. LFN exposure transiently abolished the VsEP and reduced the number of stained calyces within the sacculus. Although some recovery of the VsEP waveform could be observed within 3 days after noise, at 3 wk recovery was only partial in most animals, consistent with a reduced number of afferents with calyceal endings. These data show that a single intense noise exposure is capable of causing a vestibular deficit that appears to mirror the synaptic deficit associated with hidden hearing loss after noise-induced cochlear injury. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to explore the effects of low-frequency high-intensity noise on vestibular short-latency evoked potential (VsEP) responses, which shows a linkage between attenuated noise-induced VsEPs and pathological changes to otolith organ afferents. This finding suggests a potential limitation of the VsEP for evaluation of vestibular dysfunction, since the VsEP measurement may assess the activity of a specific class rather than all afferents.

scholarly journals Portable Low-Frequency Noise Reduction Device for Both Small Open and Closed Spaces

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Haiyang Gao ◽  
Liyao Yu ◽  
Tiantian Yu ◽  
Wenhui Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noise Reduction ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Active Noise Control ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Noise Spectrum ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Pollution Problem ◽  
Negative Impacts

Noise pollution has been given more attention due to its negative impacts on human health and disease. The portable low-frequency noise reduction device we developed in this research can provide an effective way for solving low-frequency noise pollution problem in the small space. This work describes the design principle and the prototype structures for two versions of V1.5 and V2.0 and builds the noise test systems for small spaces, respectively. These devices, installed on the outer surface of the small spaces, can automatically identify the noise spectrum and implement noise reduction by means of the active noise control (ANC) technology. The testing results indicate that the noise can be reduced 12 dB in the range of 250 Hz~400 Hz for the small closed space while, for the small open space, the best effect of 5.88 dB occurs in the optimal frequency of 450 Hz. These effects will be weakened with the increasing distance away from the source and show the obvious axisymmetric distribution in the inverted cone space.

scholarly journals PROBABILITY OF OCCURRENCE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS ON SCAFFOLDING CAUSED BY NOISE EXPOSURE

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Jabłoński ◽  
Iwona Szer ◽  
Jacek Szer
Keyword(s):  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Noise Measurements ◽  
The Impact

The paper presents the results of measurements for one hundred and ten scaffolds located in five cities in different parts of Poland. Measurements were made between April of 2016 and October of 2017. The environmental tests performed on scaffoldings were focused mainly on the sound level. The parameters on which we base our analysis are the value of C-weighted peak sound levels and daily noise exposure level. The noise that affects construction workers on scaffolding may influence the behaviour of workers and increase the risk of accidents. And at the same time, noise exposure laws facilitate identification of high noise-emitting activities and provide effective preventive measures that reduce noise pollution and improve work environments. The analyses carried out confirmed the qualitatively expected dependencies, and allowed us to quantify the impact of noise to which scaffolding workers are exposed. In summary, noise measurements on scaffoldings can be a valuable aid in improving working conditions. The analysis of research results allows understanding hazards related to noise in an accessible way. They provide the opportunity to modify the professional environment so that it is more employee-friendly and does not expose them to problems occurring in a noisy work environment.

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