Low-Frequency Noise and Its Main Effects on Human Health—A Review of the

Literature between 2016 and 2019

The information concerning the relationship between low-frequency noise and its
effects on health is compiled in this article. A database was created containing a
total of 142 publications about low-frequency noise exposure and its consequences
on health that were written between 2016 and 2019. 39 articles in all were
thoroughly examined and the articles were divided into categories according to the
effects on human health addressed. There were more articles discussing concerns
linked to environmental noise sources. There were more articles referring to the
effects on sleep disorders, discomfort, sensitivity to and irritability from noise,
annoyance, hearing loss, and cardiovascular diseases when it came to the effects on
human health, and these effects are also analyzed in the present article. In this
article it was discussed that the variation in heart rate is found to be negatively
impacted by noise exposure, particularly low-frequency noise, as it exceeds the
levels recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as discussed by
Walker et al., Wang et al., and Blair et al. According to Rossi et al., introverts'
heart rates rise noticeably as compared to when there is quiet, but extroverts' heart
rates remain same. Smith et al. discovered that people's heart rates rose as their
exposure to noise increased. Lastly, according to research by Poulsen et al.,
prolonged high exposure to wind turbine noise is linked to an increase in
myocardial infarction and stroke.

Spectral Content (colour) of Noise Exposure Affects Work Efficiency

In this research, in order for the researchers to increase the workers’ productivity,
three types of noise exposure experiments were carried out. In this study they used
physical methods in cognitive tests to investigate the three-color sound on
productivity and test the previous research stating that pink noise can diminish the
potential of a brain wave. They gathered 22 participants and were exposed to each
of the four noise environments, that are quiet, pink, and white noises. The details
of psychomotor speed, continuous performance, executive function, and working
memory were recorded after conducting the experiment. The research findings
according to the study that participants perform noticeably better on the Working
Memory Test, Executive Function Test, Continuous Performance Test, and
Psychomotor Speed Test. Red, Pink, and White noises were had significant
positive results as compared with the quiet environment in the psychomotor speed
test and for the continuous performance test, pink noise is the only one that gave a
significant positive result. While in the executive function test, red, pink, white
noise gave better results. Red and pink noise showed considerable improvement,
while white noise was significantly positive in comparison with the quiet
environment of the working memory test. Red and pink noise also increases the
likelihood of improved judgment, implementation, and atmosphere overall,
according to the comfort questionnaire results. Due to the overall positive results,
the researchers suggested that in order to provide white-collar workers with a
better working environment, color noise may be employed to enhance their
workplace’s environment. Utilizing physical stimuli like red, pink, and white
noises to increase worker productivity may be a novel strategy that has fewer
negative effects than traditional approaches like drinking refreshing beverages.
They believed that the introduction of the noises is a simple, inexpensive, and non-
invasive improvement.

References:

Alves, J. A., Paiva F. N., Silva L. T., Remoaldo P. (2020). Low-Frequency Noise
and Its Main Effects on Human Health—A Review of the Literature between 2016
and 2019. Retrieved from MDPI website: https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155205

Lu, S. H., Huang Y. H., & Lin K. Y. (2020). Spectral Content (colour) of Noise
Exposure Affects Work Efficiency. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine
website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7986458/#sec1-1title