Environmental Infrasound Pollution and Its Effects on Human Populations

R. Gopalaswami^1,

¹Former Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Dynamics Ltd. Hyderabad

Cite this paper:
R. Gopalaswami. Environmental Infrasound Pollution and Its Effects on Human Populations. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2017; 5(3):93-98. doi: 10.12691/jephh-5-3-3

Abstract

Infrasound is very low frequency acoustic wave with frequencies ranging from 0.01Hz to 20 Hz. Environmental infrasound emanates from earthquakes, mountain valleys, volcanoes, coal mines, atmospheric wind turbulence, and oceans. Man-made infrasound is from transportation and industrial systems. Scientific evidence has established that infrasound can be very harmful and indeed dangerous to human life. Studies worldwide reveal that regions of high seismicity are also locations of high environmental infrasound. “Hot spots” of high seismicity in West, Central and South Asia particularly in the region within the boundary of colliding tectonic plates at 34°N latitude are also seen to be regions of ethnic conflict and hotbeds of terrorism. This paper proposes a hypothesis that among the many potential sociological, biological and geopolitical causes of anti-social and violent behavior in human populations, environmental emissions of infrasound is identified as a potential harmful factor. The findings of scientific studies are presented on infrasound science and technology; infrasound toxicology research; sociology; geology and geophysics and analysed for correlations. The need for experimental verification of this hypothesis at least in such ‘hot spot’ regions is paramount. Considerable research has already been carried out on harmful effects of infrasound but focused on individuals. Very preliminary studies on effect of infrasound in a large assembly of people (about 750) indicate that about 20% of the population alone is harmed. New infrasound-cancellation technologies are proposed to alleviate the harmful effects of environmental infrasound pollution. Widespread experimental studies would provide better understanding of environmental infrasound and could well usher in a new era of world peace.

Keywords:
plate tectonics environmental infrasound seismicity ethnic conflict electroacoustics

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