The effect of noise on serum and urinary magnesium and catecholamines in humans

We have studied whether a short-term exposure to loud noise was able to modify urinary catecholamine excretion and serum concentration and urinary excretion of magnesium and other related electrolytes. In 25 healthy volunteers, blood and urine concentrations of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and creatinine, and urinary catecholamines were measured before and after exposure to noise in an industrial plant. Samples were collected at 08:00 h on the day of the experiment and soon after noise exposure (at 20:00 h). Two further urine samples were collected the following day and 2 days after the experiment, always at 08:00 h in the morning. The sound energy average level was 98 dB(A), but peak levels reached 108 dB(A). Urinary catecholamines were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum magnesium and calcium were significantly increased after exposure to noise, whereas phosphorus displayed a similar but non-significant trend (P = 0.065). Multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences both among subjects (P < 0.001) and after exposure (P < 0.001). Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine values were not significantly different after exposure to noise (P > 0.05). Urinary magnesium levels were significantly different across time (P = 0.017). Urinary calcium levels were not significantly different across time (P = 0.36). Urinary phosphate values were increased after exposure to noise (P = 0.007); urinary creatinine was not changed after exposure (P > 0.05). Our study shows that noise induces significant increases of serum calcium and magnesium, with a borderline increase of serum phosphorus; this in turn is reflected in a significantly increased urinary excretion of magnesium and phosphate after exposure, which lasts for the following 2 days. Urinary calcium and creatinine were not modified by noise. The difference in catecholamine values did not reach statistical significance. Thus, we failed to substantiate a significant correlation between catecholamine secretion and magnesium metabolism, as others had suggested.