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How loud is too loud?

A recent NIOSH Science Blog post described noise exposure tolerance level, and the description is easy to understand and can be applied to everyday life.


According to NIOSH Science Blog,

 
  • Noise around 85 decibels (dBA) – which is loud enough that you must raise your voice to be heard by someone three feet away (arm’s length) – can damage your hearing after repeated exposures lasting 8 hours or more. Equipment, like printing presses and lawn mowers, and activities like vacuuming, or using earbuds or headphones with the volume set around 70%, all average about 85-90 dBA.

  • When noise reaches 95 dBA – which is loud enough that you must shout to be heard by someone at arm’s length – it can put your hearing at risk in less than an hour. Bulldozers, ambulance sirens, chain saws, bars/nightclubs and large sporting events are all louder than 95 dBA.

From 'Workplace Noise: More than just “All Ears”' Posted on June 28, 2018 by Ellen Kerns, MPH, CPH, COHC and Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, CPH, COHC.

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2018/06/28/noise-effects/

 

We recommend that you visit the post, and you can find more information about noise-induced health effects such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2018/06/28/noise-effects/

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