Ultrasonics and Health To provide information regarding persons working or near ultrasonic energy, the following information summaries are from leading researchers.
"Present airborne, environmental ultrasonic field (as generated by equipment for which data are available) do not appear to be significantly hazardous to man." "Ultrasonic sickness as described around 1948-62, appears to be largely of psychosomatic origin and engendered by the apprehension and/or fear growing out of speculative publicity about the effects of airborne ultrasound."
Horace O. Parrack, Ph.D Deputy for Studies and Analyses Systems Engineering Group, Wright -Patterson A.F.B., Ohio Hearing before the Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, 90th Congress, First Session on H.R. 10790. Publication Serial No. 90-11 page 296.
"Any accidental exposure of body parts is not considered a serious hazard as intolerable pain will be experienced and the exposure will be terminated before any injury results. There are no known physiological effect from airborne ultrasound."
Jerome T. Siedlecki, M.S. AMA Department of Occupational Health Chicago, Illinois Journal American Medical Association Jan. 19, 1970; Vol. 211, No.3, page 507.
"There is at present no clear evidence that current practice in the use of ultrasound, either medically or industrially, is inherently hazardous."
C.R. Hill, Ph.D British Journal of Radiology Vol. 41, No. 488; August 1968; page 568.
"We have no evidence at present to indicate that airborne ultrasonic vibrations constitute a hazard to hearing. Our experimental, though limited, work in this field has so far been negative."
E.D.D. Dickson Senior Consultant and Consultant Otorhinolaryngology Ann. Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology Section of Otology, Vol. 46, page 148.
"Present evidence does not indicate that airborne ultrasonic vibrations constitute a practical hazard to hearing or produce any special effects on the nervous system or sense organs."
Hallowell Davis, M.D. et al Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine 1848; Vol. 58; page 737.
"Hearing tests, balance tests, psychological tests and clinical examinations failed to reveal any ill effects caused by exposure of men to a variety of industrial ultrasonic equipments .. Airborne ultrasonic pressure level from industrial equipment is generally less than 120 db and does not present any danger to personnel."
J.J. Knight "Effects of Airborne Ultrasound of Man" Ultrasonics(Magazine) January, 1968; pages 38-41
