Latest Noise pollution Stories
Blue whale vocal behavior is affected by man-made noise, even when that noise does not overlap the frequencies the whales use for communication, according to new research published Feb. 29 in the open access journal PLoS ONE. The whales were less likely to emit calls when mid-frequency sonar was present, but were more likely to do so when ship sounds were nearby, the researchers report. The study was conducted in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California by Mariana Melcon and...
Hearing loss has been linked with a variety of medical, social and cognitive ills, including dementia. However, a new study led by a Johns Hopkins researcher suggests that hearing loss may also be a risk factor for another huge public health problem: falls. The finding could help researchers develop new ways to prevent falls, especially in the elderly, and their resulting injuries that generate billions in health care costs in the United States each year, by some estimates. To determine...
Sparrows, blackbirds and the great tit are all birds known to sing at a higher pitch (frequency) in urban environments. It was previously believed that these birds sang at higher frequencies in order to escape the lower frequencies noises of the urban environment. Now, researchers at the University of Copenhagen and the University of Aberystwyth have discovered that besides noise, the physical structure of cities also plays a role in altering the birds’ songs. Urban birds sing...
According to a new study, baleen whales suffered less stress from ship noise after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. A study conducted in Canada's Bay of Fundy has revealed that a lull in ship noise after the attacks eased stress on right whales, a type of baleen whale. They analyzed underwater noise levels during a period of reduced ship traffic in the bay after the attacks, and compared the data with levels of stress-related hormone metabolites in the...
DETROIT, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Ford Health System today announced that it will be implementing new and additional processes to ensure effective communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing patients and health care providers. Under a settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Henry Ford will provide training to hospital staff on the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA); to adopt specific policies and procedures to ensure that...
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hearing Loss Association of America® is pleased to announce its line-up of 2012 spring and fall Walks in 21 cities across the country. The Walk4Hearing experienced growth for the sixth straight year and surpassed its 2011 fundraising goal of $1.2 million. Hearing loss is a leading public health concern with 36 million adults reporting some degree of hearing loss, yet most people go untreated. The Walk4Hearing increases...
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ford reduces wind noise in all-new Ford Escape by using an elliptical acoustic mirror to measure noise This is the first use of this technology to test wind noise in a Ford sport utility vehicle The mirror is like a satellite dish with a microphone placed a short distance from the Escape, traversing it lengthwise to collect sound Acoustic mirrors were a precursor to radar, intended to detect airplanes When Ford engineers sought...
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- People with heart disease should get their hearing checked because of the link between cardiovascular and hearing health, according to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). Likewise, anyone with hearing loss should pay close attention to their cardiovascular health. And to help people quickly assess if they need an objective hearing test by a hearing health professional, BHI is offering a free, quick, and confidential online hearing check--the...
(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Deafness affects 2 to 4 of every 1,000 people within the United States alone. A gene known as FGF20, located in a portion of the genome has been associated with inherited deafness in otherwise healthy families, but new clues found in mice may lead to a solution in human deafness. David M. Ornitz, MD, PhD, the Alumni Endowed Professor of Development Biology and his associates Sung-Ho Huh, PhD, and Mark E. Warchol, PhD discovered when they inactivated the FGF20 gene in...
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine report they have found new clues that may help scientists understand the genetic causes of deafness. The gene FGF20 has been associated with inherited deafness in otherwise healthy families. The FGF20 gene codes for one member of a family of proteins known as fibroblast growth factors. Members of this family are known to play important and broad roles in embryonic development, tissue maintenance and wound healing. "When we...
