[Low-frequency noise as a hazard increasing occurrence of chromosomal aberrations and promoting cell death.]

The authors studied influence of low frequency noise on cells genome and cell death processes. Vistar male rats were exposed to low frequency noise with maximal range up to 250 Hz with noise pressure of 120.dB or 150 dB once (during 17 minutes) or repeatedly (17 minutes 5 days per week over 13 weeks), after that frequency of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells and serum low-molecular DNA were assessed. In comparison with reference values, single exposure to low frequency noise with noise pressure of 120 or 150 dB reliably increased frequency of%chromosomal aberrations more than 10-fold and caused dicentrics in aberrations spectrum, significally increased serum-low-molecular DNA over 7-fold, with low-molecular DNA level remaining high during 7 days after exposure to low frequency noise. Repeated exposure to low frequency noise with noise pressure 120 and 150 dB resulted in reliable increase of low-molecular DNA level 36-fold and 22-fold respectively vs. reference values. Thus, low frequency noise harms genome, with more frequency of chromosomal aberrations, and increases apoptosis that manifests in higher level of extracellular low-molecular DNA. Some part of the work was performed with governmental financial support of leading universities of Russian Federation (grant 074U01).