Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-10-2003 | Original Article

A chamber-experiment investigation of the interaction between perceptions of noise and odor in humans

Authors: Zhiwei Pan, Søren K. Kjaergaard, Lars Mølhave

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 8/2003

Abstract

Objectives

This study was designed to investigate human comfort and health effects following exposure to noise and odor and to explore the interaction between perceptions of noise and odor in humans.

Materials and methods

Nine healthy subjects were randomly exposed to noise, odor, and their combination, in a 3×3 Latin square design for 80 min in an exposure chamber. Continuous noise was broadcast at an average level of 75 dBA by a loudspeaker, and odor was provided by furfurylmercaptan (a coffee-aroma constituent). A standardized 28-item questionnaire, together with mood-scale ratings, nasal dimensions by acoustic rhinometry, addition tests for distraction, and skin humidity, were performed before and at the end of exposure.

Results

In the questionnaire investigation, the perceived "sound level" was significantly affected by noise and the combined exposures, while "odor intensity", "air quality", and "need more ventilation" was significantly affected by odor and the combined exposures. Perceptions of symptoms became worse with increasing exposure time, such as perceived "dry nose" and "sleepiness" by odor and combined exposures, "headache" by noise, "concentration difficulty", "general well being", and "stressed by being in the chamber" by noise, odor and combined exposures. In addition, the occurrence of interactions was analyzed by comparison of the ratings of perceived "sound level", "odor intensity", "air quality", and "need more ventilation" during the combined exposure with two single exposures. Insignificant interaction was found but it indicated a decreased tendency to perceptions of discomfort from "odor intensity", "air quality", and "need for more ventilation" when noise was added to odor exposure.

Conclusion

It may be concluded that noise and odor cause discomfort in humans. Moreover, the study might indicate that additions of noise reduce (mask) the perception of discomfort from odor, and additions of odor have no or little affect on the perception of noise.

Andersson K, Fagerlund I, Dahm B (2000) Can an easily recognized odor "mask" the perception of irritating substances in indoor air? A case report. Proceedings of Healthy Buildings, vol 1, pp 107–108

Bach B, Pedersen OF, Mølhave L (1990) Human performance experimental formaldehyde exposure. Environ Int 16:105–113

Berglund B, Berglund U, Lindvall T (1971) On the principle of odor interaction. Acta Psychol 35:255–268CrossRef

Broadbent DE (1971) Decision and stress. Academic Press, New York

Cain WS (1988) Olfaction. In: Atkinson RC, Herrnstein RJ, Lindzey G, Luce RD (eds) Stevens' handbook of experimental psychology, 2nd edn. A Wiley Interscience Publication. Wiley, pp 409–459

Cain WS, Murphy CL (1980) Interaction between chemoreceptive modalities of odour and irritation. Nature 284:255–257PubMed

Clausen G, Carrick L, Fanger PO, Kim SW, Poulsen T, Rindel JH (1993) A comparative study of discomfort caused by indoor air pollution, thermal load and noise. Indoor Air 3:255–262

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1991) Indoor air quality and work environment survey: EPA headquarters building, vol IV. Multivariate statistical analysis of health, comfort and odor perception as related to personal and workplace characteristics. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

Fang L, Clausen G, Fanger PO (1998) Impact of temperature and humidity on the perception of indoor air quality. Indoor Air 8:80–90

Gavreau V (1968) Infrasound. Science 33–37

Gyntelberg F, Vesterhauge S, Fog P, Isager H, Zillstorff K (1986) Acquired intolerance to organic solvents and results of vestibular testing. Am J Ind Med 9:363–370

Hilberg O, Jackson AC, Swift DL, Pederson OF (1989) Acoustic rhinometer: evaluation of nasal cavity geometry by acoustic reflection. J Appl Physiol 66:295–303PubMed

Hygge S (1991) The interaction of noise and mild heat on cognitive performance and serial reaction time. Environ Int 17:229–234

Kjaergaard S, Mølhave L, Pederson OF (1989) Human reaction to indoor air pollutants: n-decane. Environ Int 15:437–482

Kjaergaard SK, Mølhave L, Pederson OF (1991) Human reaction to a mixture of indoor air volatile organic compounds. Atmos Environ 25A:1417–1426

Kjaergaard SK, Rasmussen TR, Mølhave L, Pederson OF (1995) An experimental comparison of indoor air VOC effects on hayfever and healthy subjects, In: Maroni M (ed) Proceedings of Healthy Building 95, Milan, pp 567–572

Laing DG, Panhuber H, Willcox ME, Pittmann EA (1984) Quality and intensity of binary odor mixtures. Physiol Behav 33:309–319

Letz R, Baker EL (1988) NES2: neurobehavioral evaluation system, NES2 user manual (version 4.2). Emory University, School of Public Health, Atlanta, USA

Mohr GC, Cole JN, Guild E, von Gierke H (1965) Effects of low frequency and infrasonic noise on man. Aerosp Med 36:817–824

Mølhave L, Bach B, Pedersen OF (1986) Human reactions to low concentrations of volatile organic compounds. Environ Int 12:167–175

Mølhave L, Liu Z, Jørgensen AH, Pedersen OP, Kjaergaard SK (1993) Sensory and physiological effects on humans of combined exposures to air temperatures and volatile organic compounds. Indoor Air 3:155–169

Nordstrom K, Norback D, Akselsson R (1995) Influence of indoor air quality and personal factors on the sick building syndromes in Swedish geriatric hospitals. Occup Environ Med 52:170–176PubMed

Niven RM, Fletcher AM, Pickering CA, Faragher EB, Potter IN, Booth WB, Jones TJ, Potter PD (2000) Building sickness syndrome in healthy and unhealthy buildings: an epidemiological and environmental assessment with cluster analysis. Occup Environ Med 57:627–634PubMed

Pan Z, Mølhave L, Kjaergaard SK (2000) Effects on eyes and nose in humans after experimental exposure to airborne office dust. Indoor Air 10:237–245

Passchier-Vermeer W, Passchier WF (2000) Noise exposure and public health. Environ Health Perspect 108:123–131PubMed

Reynolds SJ, Black DW, Borin SS, Breuer G, Burmeister LF, Fuortes LJ, Smith TF, Stein MA, Subramanian P, Thorne PS, Whitten P (2001) Indoor environmental quality in six commercial office buildings in the midwest United States. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 16:1065–1077

Skov P, Valbjørn O (1987) The "sick" building syndrome in the office environment: the Danish town hall study. Environ Int 13:339–349

Skov P, Valbjørn O, Perdersen BV (1989) Influence of personal characteristics, job-related factors and psychological factors on sick building syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health 15:286–295PubMed

WHO (1983) Indoor air pollutants: exposure and health effects assessment. Euro reports and studies no. 78, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

Title: A chamber-experiment investigation of the interaction between perceptions of noise and odor in humans
Authors: Zhiwei Pan
Søren K. Kjaergaard
Lars Mølhave
Publication date: 01-10-2003
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 8/2003
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-003-0464-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

A chamber-experiment investigation of the interaction between perceptions of noise and odor in humans

Abstract

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 8/2003

Work stress and health effects among university personnel

N-Nitrosodiethanolamine urinary excretion in workers exposed to aqueous metalworking fluids

Differences in nasal irritant sensitivity by age, gender, and allergic rhinitis status

Perceived muscular tension, emotional stress, psychological demands and physical load during VDU work

Naphthalene—an environmental and occupational toxicant

The context of a study influences the reporting of symptoms