Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2013 Jun;26(3):488-93. doi: 10.2478/s13382-013-0116-0.
The agricultural tractor is one of the most commonly used vehicles on farms and one of the most prominent sources of noise. This article presents an exemplary assessment of the audible and infrasonic noise levels in the cabins of selected modern wheeled agricultural tractors.
Operator-perceived audible and infrasonic noise levels in the cabins were examined for 20 types of modern tractors during typical conditions of work. The tractors had been in use for no longer than 3 years, with rated power between 96 kW and 227 kW, designed and produced by world-renowned companies. Noise level measurements were performed in accordance with PN-EN ISO 9612:2011 (ISO 9612:2009).
Audible noise levels (A-weighted) ranged from 62.1 to 87.4 dB-A (average: 68.2 to 83.8 dB-A) for different work tasks. The factors influencing noise levels include performed tasks, soil, weather conditions and the skills of individual drivers. In spectrum analysis, the highest noise levels occurred at frequencies 250 Hz, 1 and 2 kHz. Infrasound noise levels (G-weighted) ranged from 87.3 to 111.3 dB-G. The driver-experienced exposure to infrasound was found to increase significantly when the vehicle was in motion.
Average audible noise levels have no potential to adversely affect the hearing organ during tasks performed inside the closed cabins of the analysed modern agricultural tractors. Due to the relatively low audible noise levels inside the cabins of modern agricultural tractors, non-auditory effects are the only adverse symptoms that can develop. Modern agricultural tractors emit considerable infrasonic noise levels. All tractors introduced into the market should be subjected to tests with regard to infrasonic noise levels.
农业拖拉机是农场中最常用的车辆之一，也是最显著的噪声源之一。本文介绍了对选定的现代轮式农业拖拉机驾驶室的可听噪声和次声噪声水平的评估示例。
在典型的工作条件下，对 20 种现代拖拉机的驾驶室中的操作人员感知的可听噪声和次声噪声水平进行了检查。这些拖拉机使用时间不超过 3 年，额定功率在 96kW 到 227kW 之间，由世界知名公司设计和生产。噪声级测量符合 PN-EN ISO 9612:2011（ISO 9612:2009）。
不同工作任务的可听噪声级（A 加权）范围为 62.1 至 87.4dB-A（平均值：68.2 至 83.8dB-A）。影响噪声级的因素包括执行的任务、土壤、天气条件和驾驶员的技能。在频谱分析中，最高噪声级出现在 250Hz、1kHz 和 2kHz 频率处。次声噪声级（G 加权）范围为 87.3 至 111.3dB-G。当车辆处于运动状态时，驾驶员经历的次声暴露明显增加。
在分析的现代农用拖拉机封闭驾驶室内执行任务时，平均可听噪声级没有对听觉器官造成不利影响的潜力。由于现代农用拖拉机驾驶室内的可听噪声水平相对较低，只有非听觉效应是可能出现的不利症状。现代农用拖拉机发出相当大的次声噪声级。所有进入市场的拖拉机都应进行次声噪声级测试。
