https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-026-07621-9
Regular Article
Ultrasonic baths and sonicators in the Italian research laboratories: characterization of their emission using national operational guidelines for the prevention of worker’s exposure risks
1
Department of Technological Innovations, Italian National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work, Rome, Italy
2
Physical Agents Sector, Regional Public Health Laboratory, South-East Tuscany Health Unit, Siena, Italy
3
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work, Rome, Italy
4
Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Rome, Italy
5
National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work, Regional Directorates Calabria UOT CVR, Catanzaro, Italy
6
Department of Physics, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
a
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Received:
29
October
2025
Accepted:
27
March
2026
Published online:
11
April
2026
Abstract
The increasing use of technologies based on ultrasound (US) entails potential exposure for workers. In the absence of a specific section in the Italian Legislative Decree 81/08 and binding exposure limits, in 2022 the Operational Guidelines for the Prevention of Risks from Ultrasound were published to define measurement methods and procedures for the assessment and management of risks arising from exposure to this physical agent. This paper presents the results of a measurement campaign conducted on 30 ultrasonic baths and 14 sonicators used in the research laboratories, carried out in accordance with the methods described in the operational guidelines document. For this purpose, a specific measurement chain was used, consisting of a signal acquisition and analysis system and a microphone sensitive in the ultrasonic range. Measurements were taken in the environments where the devices are normally used under different emission and operating conditions. The results were compared with the exposure limits recommended in the guidelines to prevent the onset of auditory effects (hearing damage) and extra-auditory effects (fatigue, nausea, headache, dizziness, etc.). The findings of the study made it possible to identify prevention and protection measures to ensure the safe use of ultrasonic baths and sonicators, such as source isolation, the use of hearing personal protective equipment, the posting of appropriate warning signs, and the training and information of workers.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
