The effect of noise on cargo boats on a long voyage differs considerably from the effect of noise in factories and in service industries. The peculiarities of the effect of round-the-clock noises at sea at 55 to 85 decibels, typical for cargo boats, were studied in white rats in the laboratory and aboard ship (each of the experiments lasted three months) and in young naval cadets and experienced seamen on voyages lasting one, two, and three months. The findings helped to derive health standards for maximum admissible noise level at sea

Markaryan, S. S.

Sysoyev, A. B.

Volkov, S. S.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N1l-5/J TM- 77413 
NASA-TM-77483 19850017805 
NASA TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NASA TM-77483 
SEVERAL SPECIFIC AND NONSPECIFIC RESPONSES OF THE 
HUMAN AND ANIMAL BODY TO SHIP NOISE 
S.S. Markaryan, A.A. Volkov and A.B. sysoyev 
Translation of "0 nekotorykh spetsifiches~ikh i nespetsi-
ficheskikh reaktsiyakh organizma cheloveka i zhivotnykh na 
vozdeystviye sudovogo shuma," Vestnik Otorinolaringologii, 
Mar.-Apr. 1983. pp. 8-11. 
tI3U{\\{V ,......" ....-. " ..... ~ ~u~~:l 
JUN 4 1985 
};ANGLEY. RESEARCH CENTER 
LIBRARY, NASA 
HAMPTON, VIRGINIA: 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
HASHINGTON, D.C. MAY 1983 
111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 
NF00404 
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SEVERAL' SPECIFIC AND NONSPECIFIC RE-
SPONSES OF THE HUMAN AND ANIMAL BODY 
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7. A4Ilho,(.1 S. S. Markaryan, S. S. Volkov and 
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stitute of H¥giene and Water Trans-
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STANDARD TITlE PACE 
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Translation of "0 nekotorykh spetsificheskikh i nespetsi-
ficheskikh reaktsiyakh organizma cheloveka i zhivotnykh na 
vozdeystviye sudovogo shuma," Vestnik Otorinolaringologii, 
Mar.-Apr. 1983. pp. 8-11. - - - --
16 • .t!:I"';~I The effect of noise on cargo boats on a long voyage 
differs considerably from the effect of noise in factories 
and in service industries. The peculiarities of the effect of 
round-the-clock noises at sea at 55 to 85 decibels, typical 
for cargo boats, were studied in white rats in the laboratory 
and aboard ship (each of the experiments lasted three months) 
and in young naval cadets and experienced seamen on voyages 
lasting one, two and three months. The findings helped to 
derive health standards for maximum admissible noise level at 
sea. 
17. ('r "" .. d. (Seleeteo Dr AutllOf(I») 
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SEVERAL SPECIFIC AND NONS~ECIFIC RESPONSES OF THE 
HUMAN AND ANIMAL BODY TO SHIP NOISE 
S.S. Markaryan, A.A. Volkov and A.B. Syoyev 
Scientific Research Institute of Hygiene and Water Transportation 
(Director--Professor Yu. M. Stenko) Ministry of Health USSR 
The many-month around-the-clock effect of ship noise and 
vibration with a wide range of levels hygienically are important 
features of ship noise,while traveling, affecting the human organism. 
The works of Yeo Ts. An~reyeva-Galinina and coauthors (1972), 
v. Ye.Ostapkovich (1982), G.A. Suvorov and coauthors (1981), 
I.L. Karagodina (1979) and others has convincingly shown that 
noise which has a general biological effect results in a change 
not only in the hearing organ but also in other organs and systems 
of the organism. It has also been established that noise with a 
/8* 
level lower than 80 db does not cause organic breakdowns in the /9 
auditory analyzer for a working shift of operators of computers 
but is apparent in functional disorders of the nervous and cardio-
vascular system (L.M. Marmysheva, 1979). However, a long-term 
noise effect at a level of 60--65 to 85 db and higher was accom-
panied by changes in practically all systems of the human organism 
and at all functiqnal levels (S.A. Soldatkina, 1973; I.L. Kara-
godina and V.A. Tokarev, 1976). Specific changes are· apparent only 
in the area where the noise stimulus is applied, that is, in the 
auditory analyzer which shows itself in the increase in auditory 
thresholds (V. Yeo Ostapkovich, 1982, et al.). As to the reactions 
of nonauditory systems, the effect of noise can be accompanied by 
a change in arterial pre~sure, the rate of sensomotor reactions, 
etc. An analysis of the bibliographical data indicates that de-
pending on the selected indices (psychometric, physiological, 
biochemical, auditory or nonauditory) the changes in the organism 
are detected with noise at a level of 35 db and higher. For. 
*Nuwbe~~ in the margin indicate pagination in the foreiqn text. 
1 
instance, sleep is the most sensitive to the effect of noise; its 
, 
breakdown occurs with a noise level of 35 db (A.P. Shitskova, 1981). 
Our task was to study the acoustic circumstances on maritime 
cargo ships, a determination of the range of levels of noise af-
fecting sailors at sea, the study of the effect of noise 
with these levels on the organism and determination of the noise 
level whose effect in ship conditions, with a definite probabilitY,A 
would not cause change in the human organism. 
The research made it possible to establish that a proven in-
terval of average levels of noise in the rooms of maritime cargo 
ships.is£rom52 to 107 db. The average equivalent levels of 
noise to which the sailors were subjected while in the maritime 
service varies from 55 to 70 db and for personnel in the machine 
compartment it is from 85 to 100 db. 
In laboratory conditions, two series of experiments were con-
ducted on white male rats to study the biological reactions to a 
round-the-clock effects for a period of 3 months of broadband 
noise with a level of 85 and 55 db. Over a period of 3 months at 
sea the effect of ship noise was studied on the animals in two 
series of experiments with equivalent levels of 86 and 56 db. The 
animals were studied for excitability of the central nervous 
system, the biochemical index characterized in the reaction of 
metabolism of amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates in the internal 
organs (heart, testicles, brain, liver), blood serum, the functional 
state of the spermatozoids and the resistance of the animals to 
acute hypoxia. Besides laboratory studies, noise with an equiva-
lent level of 84 and 64 db was studied on a contingent of young 
. l1dval cadets for a period of 3 months· at sea taking into 
consideration the vibration effect during relaxation in the living 
quarters. Also the watch and cruise shifts in the indices for 
sailors who had served 3~5 years were studied; they were re- ~ 
ceiving an equivalent of 89 or 60 db of ship noise while sailing. 
A method of subjective evaluation of noise was used, the rate of 
2 
free association was determined for word-stimuli of various thought 
groups and the speed of motor reactions to light and sound; pulse 
and tonometry, tonal audiometry and certain subthreshold tests 
(differential in the strength of the threshold for sound, time of 
the auditory post stimulus adaptation and the threshold of in-
telligibility of speech) were all carried out; 8 biochemical indices 
in the blood serum were determined: the content of total protein, 
cholesterol, glucose, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase alkaline 
phosphatase, creatinphosphokinase, alanine and asparagine trans-
aminase. Data obtained in the first days of sailing were used for 
the background indices. 
The results of laboratory research made it possible to es-
tablish that prolonged around-the-clock effect of intense (85 db) 
or average (55 db) noise causes a set of reactions in the animal /10 
organism which are characterized both by an increase and by a de-
crease in physiological and biochemical indices. This was apparent 
in the phase changes in excitability of the central nervious 
system, acceleration in the reactions of total paths of cata-
bolism using products of decay of fatty acids and amino acids, 
a decrease in level of aerobic and an increase in anaerobic oxi-
dation of pyrogacemic acid, the change in content of basic bio-
chemical substrata in the blood serum and internal organs. Worsen-
ing of the functional state of spermatozoids was established in 
the animals and at the end of the experiment--a decrease in resis-
tance to acute hypoxia. Manifestation of the indicated set of 
changes in the organism of the experimental animals depended on 
the intensity of the noise effect and was evaluated according to 
the quantity of proven changes in the indices studied for the entire 
research period. 
While sailing for 3 months, the around-the-clock effect of 
ship noise with equivalent noises of 86 or 56 db caused, in the 
organism of the animals, twice as large a quantity of proven 
change·~ in comparison with the equivalent noise effect in the 
laboratory conditions. This circumstance was related to the 
3 
additional effect of the low-frequency component of ship noise and 
vibration. 
The conduct of experimental research on animals made it pos-
sible to establish that the closest connection to the intensity of 
long-term noise effect in a range of levels 55--85 db was the 
quantity of proven changes in the research indices whereas an 
unambiguous relationship was not noted for the value of the 
shifts. The results obtained in the experiments were the basis for 
utilization of this index when evaluating the effect of ship noise 
on the human organism in sailing conditions. 
It was established in the study on the ship that the effect of 
noise with equivalent level 84 db causes in young naval cadets 
after 1~--3 months of sailing, an increase in levels of tonal hear-
ing by 2--12 db (Figure 1); an increase in differential thresholds 
of hearing, a change in the rate of free associations and bio-
chemical indices of the blood serum. The effect of ship noise-in 
these same conditions with the equivalent level 64 db was accom-
panied by an increase in the auditory thresholds only in the low-
frequency range of the tonal scale below 1000 Hg at 3--10 db and 
also nonspecific indices showed marked changes to the least de-
gree. 
The effect, during relaxation in the living areas, of the 
vibration whose level exceeded the allowable health standard 
in the 8 Hz band by 7--1 db of acceleration caused in the person-
neL with other conditions being equal~more pronounced changes 
both in the auditory thresholds (see Figure 1) and in the non-
specific indices. 
Examination of apprentice sailors at sea showed that 
the long-term effect of ship noise for a period of 3--5 years 
with a range of equivalent levels from 60 to 89 db causes an 
increa~e in the auditory thresholds (Figure 2) and a change in 
nonspecific indices (rate of associate reactions, subthreshold 
4 
BaC~'lround 
12 
~;. ~. "'-3 
250 500 1000 2000 HJ(}(} 8000Hz 
Figure 1. Average thresholds 
of auditory sensitivity of 
young naval cadets subjected 
for l~ and 3 months to the ef-
tect of ship noise with the 
equivalent level 84 db (in 
comparison with background 
values) . 
l--duration of sailing 1~ 
months, vibration in the 
living areas does not exceed 
allowable levels; 
2--duration of sailing 3 
months, vibration in the 
living areas does not exceed 
the allowable levels; 
3--duration of sailing l~ 
months, vibration in the 
living areas exceeds the 
allowable in the octave 
band 8 Hz by 7--1I db of 
acceleration in 3 mutually 
perpendicular directions. 
Here and in Figure 2 along 
the axis of the abscissa 
is the frequency of sound 
(in Hz), on the ordinate 
axis--a decrease in hearing 
(in db). 
Bac~grollnd 
... -', ,,-{~ '" 
" ~ " 1 
... , ... f/' , " ... '3 ~;/ p-..:;::S-~--.. ;\, "--"A 2 n ___ >, ~'
250 500 1000 2000 ~ooo 8000 
Figure 2. Average thresholds 
of auditory sensitivity of 
sailors (service 3--5 years), 
subjected to 3 months of sailing 
to ship noise with an equivalent 
level of 89 db (in comparison 
with background values) . 
l ....... -·audi tory thresholds before 
duty at the beginning of the 
voyage; 
2--auditory thresholds after 
duty at the beginning of the 
voyage; 
3--auditory thresholds before 
duty at the end of the voyage; 
4--auditory thresholds after 
duty at the end of the voyage. 
The level of noise operative 
during duty was 94 db. 
auditory sensitivity, functional state of the central nervous and 
cardiovascular systems) which are retained after rest on shore be-
tween cruises. The study of logbook changes in the apprentice 
sailors made it possible to establish that an increase in the l~vels 
of hearing occurred only with the effect of noise at a level of 
5 
94 db whereas noise at a level of 64 db during a watch did not 
cause changes in tonal hearing but was accompanied by shifts in the 
nonspecific indices. 
In this way, on the basis of the study made it was established 
that the noise level which guarantees an absence of change in the 
human organism in sailing conditions does not exceed 40 db. This 
makes it possible to recommend it as a hygienic standard in the 
living areas of the maritime cargo ships. 
The results of the set of studies were used for developing /11 
health standards for noise on maritime ships. 
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6 
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REFERENCES 
1. Andreyeva-Galanina, Yeo Ts.~S.V. Alekseyev, A.V. K~yskin 
et al., Shum i shumovaya bole2rr [Noise and noise-itiallaed 
disease], Leningrad, 1972. 
2. Brodyagin, N.A., Fiziologicheskaya kibernetika [Physiological 
cybernetics], Moscow, 1981, pp. 51--52. 
3. Karagodina, I.L., Bor'ba s shumom i vibratsiey v gorodakh 
[The battle against noise and vibration in cities), Moscow, 
1979. 
4. Karagodina, I.L. and V.A. Tokarev, Gig. i san. 2, 23--27 (1976). 
5. Marmysheva, L.N., Vliyaniye shumov srednikh urovney na organizm 
cheloveka-operatora pri mashinnoy obrabotke informatsii [The 
effect of noise of average levels on the organism of the 
human operator during computer processing of information], 
Author's abstract of candidate's dissertation, MOscow, 1979. 
6. Ostapkovich, V. Ye., Vestn. otorinolar., 1, 3--10 (1982). 
7. Shitskova, A.P., Vestn. AMN SSSR [Academy of Medical Sciences 
USSR], 3,66--75 (1981). 
8. Solidatkina, S.A. et al., Gig. i san., 3, 16--20 (1973). 
9. Suvorov, G.A., Vestn. AMN SSSR, 1, 62--66 (1981). 
7 
,/ 
End of Document 


Several specific and nonspecific responses of the human and animal body to ship noise

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