francene--blog. Year 2013
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March 22nd

3/22/2013

 
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www.navytimes.com
Could a continual battering of sound cause poor health?

In the latest report, a US agency denies complaints that their army drills would be responsible for illness on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. The US Navy used the island between 1941 and 2003 to practice firing rockets, missiles and bombs. Many of the self-governing island's 10,000 residents claimed 62 years of being subjected to the drills caused serious damage to human health and to the environment.

The report dismissed the islanders' health as generally poor, stating that increased mortality rates could be partially due to a lack of access to medical care. A solution springs to my mind. The navy could donate and fund a medical facility to the island as a parting gift after years of self-interested use.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said there was no credible scientific evidence to link cancers, asthma and other illnesses to the military activities. They admitted that other tests needed to be done to detect the cumulative impact of exposures to chemicals. A munitions clean-up is ongoing and is expected to take at least another 20 years.

What about sound? Noise from the constant firing of rockets missiles and bombs could affect the resident's health. The effect of sound is an expanding area of research.


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Vieques - www.concierge.com
What we hear affects the way we experience food. A recent study by scientists at Oxford University found low tones could make food taste bitter and high-pitched tunes played on pianos or bells make things taste sweeter. They are carrying out further studies about why this happens. Chef Heston Blumenthal has experimented with sounds and food. His Fat Duck restaurant has a dish called the Sound of the Sea, which is served with an iPod playing sounds of the seaside. Crashing waves, wind and the cries of birds reportedly make the food taste fresher.

The use of sound is even being applied to white goods. Companies are looking into the hum fridges make, as a certain tone could make people think their food is fresher.

I'm reading an exciting novel at the moment about the way music affects the brain. The characters are taken into a state of ecstasy by certain mathematical sound vibrations, and are oblivious to the harm caused to their body. I look forward to finishing Connected by Simon Denman.

There is always an opposite or opposing force. Sound can benefit or harm a human brain. The plight of the innocent islanders should evoke sympathy from us all. I'm in no position to help financially, but I'll generate empathetic thoughts in the hope of a solution.


The sea complains upon a thousand shores. Alexander Smith
Simon Denman link
3/22/2013 02:00:32 am

Interesting thought, Francene, and thanks for the mention.
Regarding the effect of music on the brain, I wrote a 2-part blog some time ago exploring this very topic if you're interested: http://www.simondenman.com/2012/09/09/music/
It also mentions some of the reference books I used as research in my own novel, Connected.

Suerae Stein link
3/22/2013 06:35:29 am

Great post, Francene. I believe that being submitted to years of loud disrupting noises can negatively affect the inhabitants of the island. And I love your parting gift idea. I heard a story about one of the new wind farms and how the noise has caused extreme anxiety in the sheep of the neighboring farm. Sheep were dying from this anxiety. So sad.

Amy link
3/22/2013 07:57:06 am

Francene,
Your blog posts are always so interesting. I've read of incidents of loud sounds causing health problems. I can't remember where it was, but I do worry a bit about my parents and their health, as they live close to a busy (and noisy) railroad. This story is very sad, and I hope the navy can clean up (and quiet down) for the sake of the islanders.

Anita-Clare Field link
3/23/2013 05:36:42 am

What a horrifying story, there is so much we don't know or understand.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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