In our daily living environment we come into contact with “non-audible” ultrasound and sound of high frequencies when using devices such as “Mosquito” products, products for repelling animals and birds, movement detectors, range finders and remote controls. In this section you will find information on the sound emissions of such products, the regulation and the health risks.

 

Some consumer products using high sound frequencies

Mosquito products

  • Some years ago the device “Mosquito Mark II” of the British firm Compound Security System for driving away loitering teens, caused quite a commotion in the media. The device ensures that youths experience a very unpleasant sensation, which forces them to leave. The working of this type of product is based on the fact that young persons (up to 25 years of age) have a better hearing sensitivity for high tones than older persons. Because of this, the device works selectively: only with youths. In 2008 the Superior Health Council has published an advisory report concerning the influence on the health of the sound produced by the Mosquito device.
  • The “Mosquito” ringtone for mobile phones, also called “Mozzy tone”, is only audible for youths (under 25 years of age). In comparison with the “Mosquito Mark II – teen repellent” the strength of the sound signal is substantially lower and the duration shorter, in such a way that the ringtone can be heard properly, but yet is not annoying.

 

Devices to repel animals

  • Non-audible dog whistle

    This type of product is used for training cats or dogs. These animals can hear sounds with an upper frequency of respectively 45 and 65 kHz, which is far beyond the upper limit of the human hearing. The sound signal which is produced by the dog whistle, is described as “hardly audible to people, but well audible to dogs”.
     
  • Devices against the barking of dogs (“Anti-bark”)

    This type of product generates a high frequency sound, with changeable frequency (choice between audible sound and ultra sound). The sound signal switches on automatically when the dog barks (“Bark recognition technology”) and switches off immediately when the dog stops barking. According to the producer, under the influence of this device - which produces a strong and unpleasant sound for dogs - the dog will be taught not to bark out of boredom.
     
  • Devices for repelling rodents (“Anti-pest”)

    The upper limit of the hearing of mice and rats lies even higher (at 80-100 kHz) than the one of dogs. In order to be able to work selectively (only audible to rodents and crawling insects, and e.g. not audible to pets such as cats and dogs), these devices should use sound frequencies of more than 40 kHz. In practice, the used frequency lies in the range of 25-40 kHz. In order to increase the efficiency, this type of device makes use of additional physical stimuli: electromagnetic waves, mechanical vibrations and light flashes.
     
  • Devices for repelling birds (“Anti-birds”)

    The upper limit of the hearing of birds lies rather low (2-10 kHz). Repelling devices for birds make use of sound waves with frequencies which can be audible for humans.
     

 

Burglary detectors: movement detection

For detecting movement, alarm systems make use of ultra sound. The working principle is based on the Doppler effect. An ultra sound wave is transmitted. This wave reflects against all objects in the environment of the transmitter and is registered by a receiver. If the sound wave is reflected by a moving object, the frequency of the sound wave changes (due to the Doppler effect). The receiver detects this change, which leads to activating an alarm (the light or a siren goes off). In alarm systems detection mechanisms other than ultrasound can be applied: e.g. infrared light or radio waves.

Remote control and range finding with ultra sound

These systems make use of a sound frequency above 25 kHz. The higher the frequency, the more accurate the measuring can be. In this, the frequency of 40 kHz is most often mentioned. One uses this type of device in photography, for depth measurement, as parking radar. An alternative is the use of laser measurement. For the underwater applications (navigation and ranging by sonar) the ultra sound is the most interesting. For remote controls also infrared rays can be used.

The following figure gives an overview of these applications (limited to 60 kHz). The intensity of the sound is expressed in immission relevant sound power.

Ultrasonic consumer products

In the figure, also industrial applications are shown, for physical processing (mixing, grinding, emulsifying, extracting substances) and examination of materials. Medical applications (diagnostics, therapy, surgery) mostly make use of an ultra sound with a frequency in the MHz range and are not depicted in this image.

 

Regulation

All consumer products, including ultrasonic devices, must be safe. For some products limiting values are imposed and measuring procedures are drawn up so as to provide the producer with the possibility to prove the safety of his products in a coherent way. These limits and measuring procedures are included in the harmonised standards (These are technical standards the titles of which are published in the Official Journal of the European Union). Unfortunately, there are no harmonised standards for ultrasonic products. The manufacturer must take the international guidelines and recommendations in this connection into account. There are no specific rules for the marking of ultrasonic emissions.

 

Are there health risks?

In principle, devices like movement detectors, distance meters and remote controls cannot cause any nuisance. Only devices against animals and loitering youths seem capable of causing unpleasant sensations and subjective complaints (headache, ear ringing, fatigue, dizziness and nausea), due to the high frequency sound they produce. With the Mosquito device against loitering youths, this nuisance is the very goal. This device produces (according to the Superior Health Council) at a distance of some metres a sound pressure between 85 dB and 100 dB.

Our service has measured the sound emissions of some ultrasonic animal repellers. The limit of 75 dB, recommended by the INIRC/IRPA and by the Canadian government, is exceeded with some devices at a distance of less than 5 metres. This is why it is recommended to install an ultrasonic animal repellers at some metres in relation to the places where there may be people. It is also good to know that there are devices which work continuously, but also devices which only transmit a signal when movement is detected. This latter one is less annoying. There is no danger of hearing damage.