Loudness level and frequency content of noise in the animal house (1976)

Pfaff, J., Stecker, M.

Abstract

For a proper evaluation of the physical environment of laboratory animals we should know the loudness level (dB) and frequency (Hz) content of the noise in the animal house (Pfaff, 1974). Physical measurements are necessary since comparison of the threshold curves of audibility shows that most of the sounds perceived by the human ear are inaudible for rodents and vice versa (Fig. 1). Sounds in the animal house usually come from 3 sources-technical devices (air conditioner etc.), work in the animal room, and the animals themselves. Measuring them should help to evaluate the danger of uncontrolled background noise to animals and experiments, and to define the properties of an artificial noise background.