Low frequency noise and whole‐body vibration cause increased levels of sister chromatid exchange in splenocytes of exposed mice

Abstract

Chronic exposure to low frequency (LF) noise and whole-body vibration (WBV) induces both physiological and psychological alterations in man. Recently, we have shown that long-term occupational exposure to LF noise and WBV produces genotoxic effects in man expressed as an increase in sister chromatid exchange (SCE) levels in lymphocytes. The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether the observed effect could be reproduced in a murine model and, if so, which of the agents, LF noise alone or in combination with WBV, would be instrumental in the SCE induction. SCEs were analyzed in spleen lymphocytes of mice exposed to LF noise alone and in combination with WBV for 300 and 600 hr. An effect at the cell cycle kinetics level was also investigated. The results revealed significant increases in the mean SCE number per cell and in the proportion of cells with high frequency of SCEs (HFCs) in lymphocytes of mice submitted to combined noise and WBV over controls. No significant differences were found between single noise-exposed and control mice. A cell cycle delay was observed exclusively in the noise and WBV exposure groups. In conclusion, we demonstrated that, as in exposed workers, prolonged exposure to the combination of LF noise and WBV determines an increase in SCE level in mice while LF noise alone is not effective in SCE induction.

DNA-damage response associated with occupational exposure, age and chronic inflammation in workers in the automotive industry

“…Permanent exposures to noise and vibration have been shown to be potential health hazards [24,25]. The genotoxic activity of these factors has not been completely investigated, although some clastogenic and DNA-damaging effects were found in animals [26,27]. Unlike physical factors, chemical agents and specifically benzene, phenol, formaldehyde (by themselves or through their active metabolites) are known to induce various mutational events in different test-systems [28,29].…”

Anthropogenic noise playback impairs embryonic development and increases mortality in a marine invertebrate

“…Low frequency sound in combination with whole body vibrations induces sister chromatid exchanges and delays cell cycle progression in mice and humans16. Although specific frequencies that cause damage in water may be different to those in air due to the physical properties of sound, sine sound waves (900, 1000 and 1100 Hz) caused mechanical damage to unhatched red flour beetle ( Tribolium castaneum ) larvae17.…”

Involvement of central airways in vibroacoustic disease patients

“…Commentary. Regarding LFN as a mutagenic and genotoxic agent raises unsettling concerns [41][42][43] . Not only because LFN is rampant in our society, but also because the cause of many malignancies are being erroneously imputed to other causes.…”