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Biomedical subjects

E Rebentisch

Publications and source records attributed to E Rebentisch.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Annoyance and health risk caused by military low-altitude flight noise.

Effects of noise of low-flying military jet aircraft were investigated from demoscopic and epidemiological points of view. Areas with different low-altitude flight noise exposure were compared with one another as to subjective annoyance, casual blood pressure and ear symptoms. With the same energy equivalent sound pressure level (Leq), the subjective disturbance caused by military low-altitude flight noise was essentially greater than that due to ordinary flight noise (in the neighbourhood of civil airports). A comparison of several areas revealed that frequencies of ear symptoms (tinnitus lasting more than one hour and permanent hearing threshold shifts of greater than 30 dB) were higher only in areas where maximal flight noise levels considerably exceeded 115 dB (A) accompanied by rapid noise level increases. Blood pressure measurements yielded significantly higher values (group difference 9 mm Hg systolic) in girls living in these highly exposed areas. Acoustic limits are proposed with respect to public health.

Adolescent

Acute circulatory effects of military low-altitude flight noise.

Volunteers aged 70 to 89 years living in a senior citizen's home in Haifa were exposed to flight noise via earphones while watching video films. Their blood pressure and heart rates were measured simultaneously. A high-quality recording and reproduction technique was employed. They were exposed to the noise of two to three overflights with Lmax = 99-114 dB(A) and slow sound pressure level increase (aircraft take off) or with Lmax = 95-112 dB(A) and a fast sound pressure level increase (low-altitude flight at high subsonic speed) at intervals of 10 to 15 min. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was raised at Lmax = 112 dB(A) and high speed level increase at the average of 23 and 13 mmHg, respectively with individual maximal values of about 40 mm Hg (systolic). In order to prevent risks to the subjects' health, the noise exposure was not raised to levels above 112 dB(A) and fast level increase, although Lmax = 125 dB(A) has been measured in 75 m-low-altitude flight areas. The blood pressure response to a repeated single exposure increased in proportion to the preceding noise exposure. At high intensities and fast level increase an up to fourfold reaction intensification was detected in the majority of subjects. This change in reactivity is regarded as the result of sensitization toward the special type of noise and the implications of these observations for the long-term effects of chronic exposure to low-altitude flight noise are considered. On the basis of these results, proposals are made for limiting values for Lmax and for the speed of sound pressure level increase, the implementation of which would lead to a marked reduction in health risks from low-altitude flight noise.

Aged

Correlations between ventricular arrhythmias and electrolyte disturbances after acute myocardial infarction.

Seven 24-hour ECG recordings and blood samples were taken within 3 weeks in 42 patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Ca, K and Mg concentrations in serum, and K and Mg in the erythrocytes, were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. One half of the patients were infused with 81 mval/day MgSO4 for 3 days. In patients who exhibited intense electrolyte alterations 10-20 days after AMI, there was a significantly higher rate in the frequency of couplets and/or tachycardia in the 2- to 20-day period after AMI. In patients infused with MgSO4, the fluctuation in serum electrolytes and the rate of arrhythmias were significantly reduced.

Aged

Enhanced ototoxicity of gentamicin and salicylate caused by Mg deficiency and Zn deficiency.

In rats, Mg deficiency caused a moderate hearing loss, measured by means of evoked potentials at 10 and 20 kHz, which was repaired after refeeding a normal diet. Application of 700 mg/kg salicylic acid or injection of 5 x 100 mg/kg gentamicin also caused a reversible hearing loss in normally fed rats. Treatment of Zn-deficient rats with salicylic acid produced a stronger although reversible hearing loss than in normally fed salicylate-treated rats. Treatment of Mg-deficient rats with gentamicin induced a strong hearing loss that was nearly complete and irreversible in 9 of 25 rats.

Animals