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Harmful Effects of Exposure to Barely Audible Low-Frequency Vibrations

Barely audible low-frequency vibrations are almost silent sounds that are created when the air is vibrated. Sensory structures or cells located in the inner ear are sensitive to infrasound and are stimulated by low-frequency sounds that are almost inaudible. Some of the harmful effects of barely audible low-frequency vibrations are disturbed sleep, irritation, mental ailments and lowered productivity.

  1. Sleep Disturbance

    • Prolonged exposure to low-frequency noise inside the home may cause sleep disturbances in people. When low-frequency vibrations get indoors, they cause resonations, vibrations and annoying noises. People exposed to this may try sleeping in places where the noise is less disturbing, such as inside a garage or in a tent outside. Some people return to their homes only during daylight hours, and some people abandon their homes altogether.

    Irritation

    • Low-frequency vibrations are annoying even when they are barely audible. The sound caused by these vibrations can be described as rhythmic, screeching, banging, continual droning and thumping. Prolonged exposure can be irritating and disconcerting, so much so that it can cause people to seek medical attention.

    Mental Effects

    • Anxiety, stress and depression are some of the psychological and mental problems caused by low-frequency noise. The symptoms that people experience include headache, stress, tinnitus, dizziness, fatigue, vertigo, blurred vision, nausea, tachycardia, problems with concentration and with memory and irritability. People also experience sensations of pain or pressure in the ear and periods of panic attack.

    Lowered Productivity

    • Low-frequency indoor noise can cause illness, loss of productivity and increased mortality. Indoor noise increases the rate of disease, negative health effects, illnesses and disturbances in people. This in turn leads to reduced human productivity and potentially large economic losses. Exposure to prolonged low-frequency noise also has a detrimental effect on children's speech, learning and social behavior.

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