Development of risk assessment and method of protection for inner ear impairment caused by possible physical stress in a closed space – Publicly Invited Research 2016－2017

  1. A01 Akiyama
  2. A01 Ochi
  3. A01 Chatani
  4. A01 Seiki
  5. A01 Nikawa
  6. A01 Kawakami
  7. A01 Tomita
  8. A01 Honda
  1. A02 Shinohara
  2. A02 Maekawa
  3. A02 Ohgami
  4. A02 Nishimura
  5. A02 Kawano
  6. A02 Iwase
  7. A02 Furuichi
  8. A02 Myung
  9. A02 Kitamura
  1. A03 Nakamura
  2. A03 Harada
  3. A03 Ide
  4. A03 Shirai
  5. A03 Kakinuma
  1. B01 Lazarus
  2. B01 Miwa
  3. B01 Kunieda
  4. B01 Shimada
  5. B01 Kitaya
  6. B01 Sawano
Research Subject Development of risk assessment and method of protection for inner ear impairment caused by possible physical stress in a closed space
Research Group Leader
Nobutaka Ohgami
  • Nobutaka Ohgami
    Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
    Website
    http://

Background

Low frequency noise (LFN), defined as noise with a frequency below 100 Hz, is a physical environmental factor generated from many electric devices, including ventilation fans, industrial machines and air-circulating devices. In our previous study, exposure to LFN at 70 dB caused impairment of the vestibule in the inner ear and imbalance in mice (PLoS ONE 2012).　In contrast, another previous study showed that the exposure of humans to noise at 70 dB did not affect hearing levels in the International Space Station (ISS) (Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 2004). However, that previous study monitored noise levels without any consideration of frequency (Hz). Thus, the noise generated from electric devices in the intra-closed area of the ISS may be LFN. In this study, we exposed mice to LFN in order to assess the health risk posed by LFN at a possible level generated from electric devices in a closed space, and to develop a predictive marker and a method of protection.

Research plan

1. Assess the health risk of mice exposed to LFN with our exposure system in a closed space.

2. Determine a possible threshold of LFN affecting balance and investigate biomarkers with biological samples.

3. Develop a method of protection against LFN-mediated health risks.