Category: 5. Effects of Noise, Vibration, and Shock on People

Several reviews have been written on the possible effects of noise on the performance and efficiency of people at work. Broadbent [13] worked on this topic for many years and has concluded that many investigations both in the laboratory and industry on the effect of noise on mental or motor performance have been inconclusive. Kryter…

It has been established through laboratory, field and animal experiments that there is a relationship between exposure to noise and cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease and hypertension. In particular, a number of studies have shown that exposure to intense noise affects the sympathetic and endocrine system increasing heart rate, blood pressure, peripheral vasoconstriction,…

Noise consists of sounds that people do not enjoy and do not want to hear. However, it is difficult to relate the annoyance caused by noise to purely acoustical phenomena or descriptors. When people are forced to listen to noise against their will, they may find it annoying, and certainly if the sound pressure level…

It is well known that noise can interfere with sleep. Not only is the level of the noise important for sleep interference to occur, but so is its spectral content, number and frequency of occurrences, and other factors. Even very quiet sounds such as dripping taps, ticking of clocks, and snoring of a spouse can…

Noise and vibration can have undesirable effects on people. At low sound pressure levels, noise may cause annoyance and sleep disturbance. At increased levels, noise begins to interfere with speech and other forms of communication; at still higher levels that are sustained over a long period of time in industrial and other occupational environments, noise…