Possible Effects on Health of Ultrasound Exposure, Risk Factors in the Work Environment and Occupational Safety Review

Ultrasonic waves are mechanical waves with a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz. Ultrasonic waves are emitted by devices that are used in industry or that have a medical or aesthetic purpose. There is growing interest in the effect of ultrasound absorption on the human body, since people's exposure to these acoustic waves has increased considerably in recent years. There are more and more devices that emit ultrasounds used for different sanitary procedures, aesthetic treatments and industrial processes, creating more possibilities of ultrasound noise, and therefore an increased risk of occupational hazard and occupational danger. Experiments on animals have shown damage to internal organs from receiving different ultrasonic frequencies. The main task of this work was to organize and summarize recent studies on ultrasound to reflect the current state of this technique and establish a systematic basis for future lines of research. This work has allowed us to better understand the unknown field of these high frequencies of sound, and highlights the need to carry out more studies on the ultrasound emissions that can be absorbed by the human body to determine how this energy could affect humans by calculating the maximum dose of exposure and developing manuals for the use of ultrasound-emitting equipment to protect the health of workers and all people. It is necessary to develop regulations by public administrations to improve the protection of workers, health professionals, patients and all people in general for better occupational safety, indoor environmental quality and environmental health.

Automated summary

Ultrasonic waves, with a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz, have various applications in industry, medical field, and aesthetics. Recent studies have shown increased concern about the absorption of ultrasound by the human body, as people's exposure to these waves has significantly increased. Animal experiments have demonstrated organ damage from exposure to different ultrasonic frequencies. The main objective of this work was to compile and summarize recent studies on ultrasound to provide insight into its current state and establish a foundation for future research. It emphasizes the need for further research on the effects of ultrasound emissions on the human body to determine the potential impact on human health. The development of regulations by public administrations is necessary to ensure the safety and health of workers, healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public, in terms of occupational safety, indoor environmental quality, and environmental health.