RESEARCH PAPER
Exposure to infrasonic noise in agriculture
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
University of Medical Sciences in Poznań 2. Dezydery Chłapowski Research Institute
 
 
Corresponding author
Bartosz Bilski   

University of Medical Sciences in Poznań 2. Dezydery Chłapowski Research Institute
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017;24(1):86-89
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objectives:
Although exposure to audible noise has been examined in many publications, the sources of infrasound in agriculture have not been fully examined and presented. The study presents the assessment of exposure to infrasound from many sources at workplaces in agriculture with examples of possible ergonomic and health consequences caused by such exposure.

Material and Methods:
Workers’-perceived infrasonic noise levels were examined for 118 examples of moving and stationary agricultural machines (modern and old cab-type tractors, old tractors without cabins, small tractors, grinders, chargers, forage mixers, grain cleaners, conveyors, bark sorters and combine-harvesters). Measurements of infrasound were taken with the use of class 1 instruments (digital sound analyzer DSA-50 digital and acoustic calibrator). Noise level measurements were performed in accordance with PN-Z-01338:2010, PN-EN ISO 9612:2011 and ISO 9612:2009.

Results and conclusions:
The most intense sources of infrasound in the study were modern and old large size types agricultural machinery (tractors, chargers and combined-harvesters, and stationary forage mixers with ventilation). The G-weighted infrasound levels were significant and at many analyzed workplaces stayed within or exceeded the occupational exposure limit (LG eq, 8h = 102 dB) when the duration of exposure is longer than 22 min./8-hours working day (most noisy – modern cab-type tractors), 46 min./8 hours working day (most noisy – old type cab-tractors), 73 min./8 hours working day (most noisy – old tractors without cabins), 86 min./8-hours working day (most noisy – combine-harvesters) and 156 min./8 hours working day (most noisy – stationary forage mixers with ventilation). All measured machines generated infrasonic noise exceeded the value LG eq, Te= 86 dB (occupational exposure limit for workplaces requiring maintained mental concentration). A very important harmful factor is infrasound exposure for pregnant women and adolescents at workplaces in agriculture. Very valuable work can be technical limiting exposure to infrasound from new and used agricultural machinery. The technical limitation of infrasound caused by both old and new agricultural machinery can be invaluable from the work point of view.

 
REFERENCES (46)
1.
Bilski B. Exposure to audible and infrasonic noise by modern agricultural tractors operators. Applied Ergonomics. 2013; 44: 210–214.
 
2.
Bilski B. Audible and infrasonic noise levels in the cabins of modern agricultural tractors- does the risk of adverse, exposure-dependent effects still exist? Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2013; 26(3): 488–493.
 
3.
IEC 1994. 60050–801:1994 International electrotechnical vocabulary- chapter 801: acoustics and electroacoustics.
 
4.
Solecki L. Evaluation of annual exposure to noise among private farmers on selected family farms of animal production profile. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2005; 12: 67–73.
 
5.
Solecki L. Characteristics of private farmers’ noise exposition fluctuations levels- methodical proposals. Bezp Pr. 2002; 9: 19–21.
 
6.
Solecki L. Duration of exposure to noise among farmers as an important factor of occupational risk. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2000; 7: 89–93.
 
7.
Solecki L. Preliminary recognition of whole body vibration risk in private farmers’ working conditions. Ann Agric Env Med. 2007; 14: 299–304.
 
8.
Solecki L. Assessment of annual exposure of private farmers to whole body mechanical vibration on selected family farms of plant production profile. Ann Agric Env Med. 2010; 17: 243–250.
 
9.
ISO 61672:2003. Electroacoustic- sound level meters. International Ogranization for Standardization.
 
10.
EN ISO 9612:2009. Acoustics- determination of occupational noise exposure- engineering method.
 
11.
PN-Z-01338:2010 Acoustics- measurement and assessment of infrasonic noise at the workplaces. PKN Warsaw 2010).
 
12.
ISO 7196:1995 Acoustics- frequency weighting characteristic for infrasound measurements. International Organization for Standardization.
 
13.
Polish Council of Ministers of 29 August 2016: The list of works forbidden to the juvenile and the conditions of employing them at some of these jobs.
 
14.
Regulation of Polish Minister of Labour and Social Policies of 29 November 2002 on high admissible exposures and concentrations levels in work environment. Off. J. Poland (217), 2002, position 1833.
 
15.
Polish Council of Ministers of 30 July 2002. The list of works forbidden to women.
 
16.
ISO/IEC 17025:2005. General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
 
17.
Hensel J, Scholz G, Hurttig U, Mrowinski D, Janssen T. Impact of infrasound on the human cochlea. Hear Res. 2007; 233; (1–2): 67–76.
 
18.
Benton S. Experiments into the effects of low frequency noise upon human behavior; a pitot study. In: Proc of Internoise: 891–894.
 
19.
Landström U, Lundström R, Byström M: Exposure of infrasound perception and changes in wakefulness. J Low Freq Noise Vibr. 1983; 2: 1–11.
 
20.
Landström U, Lindblom-Häggqvist S, Löfstedt P. Low frequency noise in lorries and correlated effects on drivers. J. Low Freq Noise Vibr. 1988; 7: 104–109.
 
21.
Nowacki G., Mitraszewska I., Kamiński T., Wierzejski A.: Research of infrasound noise in heavy goods vehicle and busses. In the: 8 th International Conference Reliability and Statistics in Transportation and Communication, 15–18 October 2008.
 
22.
Sandberg U. Combined effects of noise, infrasound and vibration on driver performance. In: Proc. of Internoise, 1983; 887–890.
 
23.
Sandberg U. Identification of infrasound generation mechanisms in a bus. In: Proceedings of the 4 th International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration. Umel University. Umel Sweden.
 
24.
Fairley TE. Predicting the discomfort caused by tractor vibration. Ergonomics. 1995; 38: 2091–2106.
 
25.
Futatsuka M, Maeda S, Inaoka T, Nagano M, Shono M, Miyakita T. Whole body vibration and health effects in the agricultural machinery drivers. Ind Health. 1998; 36: 127–132.
 
26.
Pei Z, Zhuang Z, Xiao P, Chen J, Sang H, Ren J, Wu Z, Yan G. Influence of infrasound exposure on the whole L-type calcium currents in rat ventricular myocytes. Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2009; 9(2): 70–7.
 
27.
Gordeladze AS, Glinchikov VV, Usenko VR. Experimental myocardial ischemia caused by infrasound. Gig Tr Prof Zabol. 1986; (6): 30–3.
 
28.
Nekhoroshev AS, Glinchikov VV. Morpho-functional changes in the myocardium after exposure to infrasound. Gig Sanit. 1991; 12: 56–8.
 
29.
Pei ZH, Chen JZ, Zhu MZ. The changes of ultrastructure of rat vascular endothelia after infrasound exposure. Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi. 2005; 21(1): 39–40.
 
30.
Chzhao Cg, Chén’ Tt, Chzhan Li. Influence of infrasound on angiotensin II content of rat serum. Med Tr Prom Ekol. 2004; (7): 21–24.
 
31.
Pei Z, Sang H, Li R, Xiao P, He J, Zhuang Z, Zhu M, Chen J, Ma H. Infrasound-induced hemodynamics, ultrastructure, and molecular changes in the rat myocardium. Environ Toxicol. 2007; 22(2): 169–175.
 
32.
Ma WM, Qi P, Zhang JZ, Yi Y, Chen XM, Zhang J, Han RG. The effects of infrasound on the blood coagulation function of guinea pigs. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2011; 29(3): 209–211.
 
33.
Svidovyĭ V, Glinchikov VV. Effect of infrasound on pulmonary structure. Gig Tr Prof Zabol. 1987; (1): 34–37.
 
34.
Zhuang Z, Pei Z, Chen J. Infrasound-induced changes on sexual behavior in male rats and some underlying mechanisms. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007; 23(1): 111–114.
 
35.
Arabadzhi V. Infrasound and biorhythms of the human brain. Biofizika. 1992; 37(1): 150–151.
 
36.
Morioka I, Kuriyama Y, Miyashita K, Takeda S. Effects of infrasound on gastric mucosal blood flow in rats. Environ Health Prev Med. 1996; 1(2): 71–75.
 
37.
Izmerov NF, Suvorov GA, Kuralesin NA, Ovakimov VG. Infrasound: body’s effects and hygienic regulation. Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk. 1997; 7: 39–46.
 
38.
Liu J, Lin T, Yan X, Jiang W, Shi M, Ye R, Rao Z, Zhao G. Effects of infrasound on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of adult rats. Neuroreport. 2010 Jun 2;21(8):585–9.
 
39.
Liu ZH, Chen JZ, Ye L, Liu J, Qiu JY, Xu J, Lu R, Yuan XC, Zhang WD, Li XF, Li G. Effects of infrasound at 8 Hz 90 dB/130 dB on NMDAR1 expression and changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration in the hippocampus of rats. Mol Med Rep. 2010; 3(6): 917–921.
 
40.
Cheng H, Wang B, Tang C, Feng G, Zhang C, Li L, Lin T, Du F, Duan H, Shi M, Zhao G. Infrasonic noise induces axonal degeneration of cultured neurons via a Ca² + influx pathway. Toxicol Lett. 2012; 212(2):190–197.
 
41.
Morioka I, Kuriyama Y, Miyashita K, Takeda S. Effects of infrasound on gastric mucosal blood flow in rats. Environ Health Prev Med. 1996; 1(2): 71–7.
 
42.
Nekhoroshev AS, Glinchikov VV. Morphological research on the liver structures of experimental animals under the action of infrasound. Aviakosm Ekolog Med. 1992; 26(3): 56–59.
 
43.
Chen YM, Ye L, Gao SB, Zhu DH, Luo WJ, Liu XH, Chen JY, Chen JZ. Effects of infrasound exposure on several enzymes activities of spleen and liver in rats. Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi. 2004; 20(2): 176–179.
 
44.
Qiu P, Zhang Z, Jiang Y, Gou Q, Wang B, Gou L, Chen J. Effect of infrasound on ultrastructure and permeability of rat’s blood-retinal barrier. Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2002; 38(8): 499–501.
 
45.
Dang WM, Wang S, Tian SX, Chen B, Sun F, Li W, Jiao Y, He LH. Effects of infrasound on activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase of polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate in mice. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2007; 25(2): 91–95.
 
46.
Broner N. The effects of low frequency noise on people. J Sound Vib. 1978; 58:483–500.
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top