Health effect of exposure to ultrasound and infrasound: report of the independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation

In September 2004, prior to its incorporation in the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the Board of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) agreed that the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) should be asked to undertake a review of ultrasound (frequencies greater than 20 kHz) and infrasound (frequencies less than 20 Hz) relevant to any possible health effects. A subgroup of the AGNIR was set up in 2005 under the chairmanship of Professor Denis Noble and vicechairmanship of Professor Francis Duck following the meeting of a scoping group in December 2004 that considered the possible content and shape of a report. In addition, the NRPB Board proposed that the NRPB should host a workshop on ultrasound and infrasound safety. The workshop, which was organised by the Radiation Protection Division of the HPA (the successor organisation of the NRPB), was co-sponsored by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the Department of Health and was held at Chilton from 24 to 26 October 2005