HIGH-INTENSITY LOW-FREQUENCY ACOUSTIC VIBRATIONS HAVE THE CRITICAL EFFECT ON THE LUNGS

Abstract

The paper summarizes the findings of experimental studies on animals and literature data to show the characteristics of the lungs exposure to low-frequency acoustic vibrations. Experimental studies were performed on laboratory animals of different species (mice, rats, rabbits, dogs) exposed to low-frequency acoustic vibrations on the test bench set for several months. To assess lung injury, broncho-alveolar lavage, surfactant, biologically active substances in the tissues of the lung, extracellular low-molecular blood DNA were investigated, computerized tomography and postmortem methods were used. It has been established that that prolonged action of high-intensity low-frequency acoustic waves leads to structural damage to the lung parenchyma, lung airiness disorder, bronchi patency and metabolic functions of the lungs. The revealed disorders can serve as a structural basis for the development of such lung diseases as chronic non-specific lung disease of the obstructive bronchitis and/or focal emphysema type. Morphological and functional parameters of the lungs can be considered as criteria for the harmful effect of low-frequency acoustic vibrations on the human body and animals. The obtained experimental data allow us to formulate the concept of the mechanisms of the harmful effect of this physical factor on the lungs. The respiratory system is a critical organ in relation to low-frequency acoustic vibrations. It is necessary to correct the ideas of professional ‘noise’ pathology with regard to the damage to the hearing organ only in the form of neurosensory hearing loss. As it can be seen from the presented findings, the nature of disorders in the body is determined by the noise parameters (intensity, duration and spectral composition).