Radio Use in the Vivaria
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to define the acceptable use of radios within animal housing areas.
Background
Exposure to sound louder than 85dB can have both auditory and non-auditory effects on animals, including eosinopenia, increased adrenal weights, and reduced fertility in rodents, as well as increased blood pressure in nonhuman primates. Many species can hear frequencies of sound that are inaudible to humans, so the potential effects of sound-producing instruments such as radios should be carefully considered. When at all possible, activities that might be considered noisy should be conducted in rooms or areas separate from those for animal housing.
Per the 1996 ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, (the Guide”), page 36:
“Radios, alarms, and other sound generators should not be used in animal rooms unless they are parts of an approved protocol or an enrichment program.”
Policy
Playing radios in the vivaria is not allowed unless it is part of an enrichment program that has been reviewed and approved by the IACUC.
Proposals to the IACUC must include at least the following information:
- The reason for the radio.
- Specific location(s) radio(s) will be played.
- The type of programming and volume.
- The hours the radio will be played.
References
1996 ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Approved by IACUC: 9/2/04