2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Clarification of mechanisms and development of preventive methods for health disturbances caused by exposure to low frequency noise

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	15H01743
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Environmental impact assessment
Research Institution	Nagoya University
Principal Investigator	Kato Masashi 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (10281073)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	加藤正史名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80362317) 大神信孝名古屋大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (80424919) 矢嶋伊知朗名古屋大学, 医学系研究科, 講師 (80469022)
Project Period (FY)	2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
Keywords	低周波騒音 / 内耳前庭 / 耳石膜 / 平衡機能障害 / HSP70
Outline of Final Research Achievements	In this study, we first developed a device that can produce low frequency sound (low frequency sound stimulator). Then, our experimental study proposed a threshold at which low frequency sound induced health disorders (balance and motor dysfunction), and identified the potential mechanisms and damaged sites (otoliths and otolith membranes) in the vestibule. We also developed a novel system that quickly assesses the health risk of low frequency sound by cultured utricle. Moreover, our epidemiological studies evaluated the health effects of low frequency sound in young adults. Finally, our animal study showed that increased expression level of heat Shock protein 70 expressed in the otolithic membrane can prevent a damage of otolithic membrane and dysfunction of equilibrium and motor caused by low frequency. Thus, we proposed a preventive method for health disturbances caused by exposure to low frequency noise.
Free Research Field	環境学、衛生学
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	学術的意義：動物実験を用いて、内耳前庭における低周波音の作用部位として、耳石・耳石膜を特定した。さらに、耳石膜のheat Shock protein 70 の発現を高めることにより、低周波音により誘発される健康障害（平衡・運動機能障害）を予防できることを動物実験で証明し、本領域の学術的発展に貢献した。社会的意義：低周波音の平衡・運動機能に対する影響は、胎仔期よりも乳幼児期で感受性が高いことを示した。さらに、4週間連続曝露では70 dBが、1時間曝露では95 dBが平衡・運動機能を誘発する低周波音の閾値になることを示した。以上のように、低周波音の環境基準値策定のための基礎データを提供した。