You are using an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today.

Occupational exposure to infrasonic and low frequency noise: actual problems of hygienic standardization

Occupational exposure to infrasonic and low frequency noise: actual problems of hygienic standardization

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.17, No 4, 2021


https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2021.04.235

Occupational exposure to infrasonic and low frequency noise: actual problems of hygienic standardization

Myshchenko I.1, Nazarenko V.I.2, Stopa M.1, Maslakiewicz M.1
1Accredited Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
2State Institution "Kundiev Institute for Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine


Full article (PDF): ENG / UKR

Introduction. Infrasonic and low frequency noise (LFN) are environmental and occupational hazards, which proportion continually increases. Commonly accepted hygienic standards and requirements to their measurements are absent and vary from country to country.

The purposes of the article are conduct a literature review concerning current legislation of occupational exposure to LFN and infrasound; compare levels of LFN using frequency analysis in 1/3-octave bands in the ranges from 2 to 250 Hz at the workplaces and living settlements; analyse subjective complaints of people working/living in the areas of conducted measurements; propose an approach to the hygienic evaluation of LFN and infrasound.

Materials and methods. Analytical review of scientific publications was carried out using scientometric databases, periodicals and regulations. Sanitary and hygienic measurements of infrasound and LFN were conducted by the Octave 110A sound level meter in octave and 1/3 octave bands with geometric mean frequencies in the range of 2–250 Hz at office premises, Academic Vernadsky Antarctic Station, on the territory and premises of the residential area "Nova Darnytsia", on maritime transportof the DAT “Chernomorneftgaz” in accordance with current Ukrainian sanitary norms. A survey concerning subjective complaints on the parameters of physical factors (microclimate, artificial lighting, noise) was carried among 30 office workers of State Institution «Kundiev IOH AMS of Ukraine».

Results. Most of the published articles, dedicated to the impact of LFN and infrasound, consider results of measurements using A-weighting characteristic, which essentially reduces information about LFN. Our results show that LFN in the range 2–250Hz is widespread in the industrial environment, in transport, residential areas, living premises. Despite the fact that noise levels measured using correction "A" do not exceed sanitary norms, up to 44.0±3.7% of respondents complain on noise at the workplaces. The propagation of noise increases with a prevalence low frequency bands in its spectrum.So, an absorption of acoustic oscillations by building structures is 8 dB at frequency of 31.5 Hz and 14–16 dB at frequency of 250 Hz. Acoustic oscillations in the range of 2–8 Hz at marine vessels are propagated approximately by 1,000 times better than the sound perceived by the human ear.

Conclusions. Existing approaches to the problem of assessmentof occupational and habitual exposure to the infrasonic and LFN haven’t allowed yet to substantiate generally accepted hygienic standards for these physical factors. National standards vary from country to country and differ from each other by established limits and measuring methods. Most of the published articles consider results of measurements using A-, C- and G-weighting characteristics, which do not provide objective information about spectral characteristics of the exposure hazard level. The authors suggest that the further identification of the problem should start from a common approach. The authors proposed methodology of data acquisition measuring in the 1-500 Hz range using 1/3 octave bands, linear scale and linear RMS, Min and Max detector for the purpose of profound identification of low frequency sources and for objective analysis of human organism reactions to its exposure.

Key words: low-frequency noise, infrasound, occupational exposure, hygienic standardization.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Environmental noise guidelines for the European region. 2018:160, available at: https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/environmental-noise-guidelines-for-the-european-region-2018.
  2. Leventhall, G., Pelmear, P. and Benton, S. 2003. A review of published research on low frequency noise and its effects. UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. https://doi.org/EPG1/2/50
  3. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska, M. (2010), Ocena uciążliwości hałasu niskoczęstotliwościowego w środowisku pracy oraz jego wpływ na funkcje umysłowe. Rozprawa habilitacyjna wyd. IMP Łódź.
  4. Berglund, B., Hassmen, P., Job, R.F. (1996), "Sources and effects of low-frequency noise", J Acoust.Soc.Am., Vol. 99, No 5, pp. 2985-3002. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.414863
  5. Alves-Pereira, M., Castelo Branco, N. (2007), "Vibroacoustic disease: Biological effects of infrasound and low-frequency noise explained by mechanotransduction cellular signaling", Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Vol. 93, No 1-3, pp. 256-279. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2006.07.011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2006.07.011
  6. DIN 45680:1997 Messung und Bewertungtieffrequenter Gerauschimmissionen in der Nachbarshaft (Measurement and assessment of low-frequency noise immissions in the neighbourhood).
  7. Hygiene norm HN 30:2016, Infrasound and low frequency sounds: Limit values for residential and public buildings, Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania.
  8. Low frequency noise, infrasound and vibration in the environment. Information from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency no. 9/1997 (State Sanitary Norms, Denmark).
  9. SOSFS 1996:7/E: Indoor Noise and High Sound Levels, Socialstyrelsen, Sverige, 15 Maj 1996 (State Sanitary Norms, Sweden).
  10. ISO 7996:1995 Acoustics. Frequency. Weighting characteristics for infrasound measurements.
  11. PN-N-01338:1986 Hałas infradźwiękowy. Dopuszczalne wartości poziomów ciśnienia akustycznego na stanowiskach pracy u ogólne wymagania dotyczące wykonywania pomiarów (wersja polska, Poland).
  12. Leventhall, G. (2006), "Infrasound from wind turbines - fact, fiction or deception", Canadian Acoustic, Vol. 34, No 2, pp. 29-36.
  13. PN-Z-01338:2010 Akustyka - Pomiar i ocena hałasu infradźwiękowego na stanowiskach pracy (wersja polska, Poland)
  14. SSN 3.3.6.037-99 State sanitary norms occupational noise, ultrasounf and infrasound [DSN 3.3.6.037-99 Sanitarni normi virobnichogo shumu, ul'trazvuku ta infrazvuku] , available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/va037282-99#Text.
  15. AFS 2005:16 Arbetsmiljöverkets föreskrifter om buller samt allmänna råd om tillämpningen av föreskrifterna (The Swedish Work Environment Authority's regulations on noise and general advice on the application of the regulations), available at: https://www.av.se/globalassets/filer/publikationer/foreskrifter/buller-foreskrifter-afs2005-16.pdf.
  16. Downey, G., Parnell, J. (2017), Assessing low frequency noise from industry - a practical approach. 12th ICBEN Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem.
  17. Jakobsen, J. (2000), Danish Guidelines on Environmental Low Frequency Noise, Infrasound and Vibration, in: Moller H. and Lydolf M., eds. Proceedings of the 9th International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise & Vibration, 17th-19th May 2000, Aalborg, Denmark, pp. 57-64.
  18. Mirowska, M. (2001), "Evaluation of Low-frequency Noise in Dwellings. New Polish Recommendations", Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control, Vol. 20, No 2, pp. 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1260/0263092011493163
  19. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska, M., Szymczak, W., Dudarewicz, A., liwińska-Kowalska, M. (2006), "Proposed criteria for assessing low frequency noise annoyance in occupational settings", Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ Health, Vol. 19, No 3, pp. 185-197. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10001-006-0022-9
  20. Alves-pereira, M., Motylewski, J., Kotlicka, E., Branco, N. (2005), "Low frequency noise legislation", 12th International Congress on Sound and Vibration, ICSV, Vol. 2, pp. 1478-1485.
  21. Alves-Pereira, M., Castelo Branco, M., Motylewski, J., Pedrosa, A., Castelo Branco, N. (2001), Airflow-induced infrasound in commercial aircraft, In: Proceedings of the Internoise, The Hague, Holland, pp. 1011-1014.
  22. Alves-Pereira, M., Joanaz de Melo, J., Castelo Branco, N. (2001), Low frequency noise in trains, In: Proceedings of Internoise, Prague, Czech Republic, No. 643, 5 p.
  23. Hodgdon, K., Atchley, A., Bemhard, R. (2007), Low frequency noise study, Final report. Partner-COE-2007-001. 2007:105 available at: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/26137/Print.
  24. Broner, N. (2010), "A simple criterion for low frequency noise emission assessment", Journal of low frequency noise, vibration and active control, Vol. 29, No 1, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1260/0263-0923.29.1.1
  25. Pawlas, K., Pawlas, N., Boroń, M., Szłapa, P., Zachara, J. (2013), "Przegląd kryteriów oceny infradźwięków i hałasu niskoczęstotliwościowego w środowisku zawodowym i pozazawodowym", [Infrasound and low frequency noise assessment at workplaces and environment - review of criteria], Environmental Medicine, Vol. 16, No 1, pp. 82-89.
  26. Beglung, B., Lindvall, T. (1999), Guidelines for community noise. WHO.