How Loud is Too Loud?
Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 db over time, will cause hearing loss. To know if a sound is loud enough to damage your ears, it is important to know both the loudness level (measured in decibels, dB(A) and the length of exposure to the sound. In general, the louder the noise, the less time required before hearing loss will occur. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1998), the maximum exposure time at 85 dB(A) is 8 hours. At 110 dB(A), the maximum exposure time is one minute and 29 seconds. If you must be exposed to noise, it is recommended that you limit the exposure time and/or wear hearing protection. Measure Up and Turn it Down:
Decibel Levels Around Us The following are decibel levels of common noise sources around us. These are typical levels, however, actual noise levels may vary depending on the particular item. Remember noise levels above 85 dBA will harm hearing over time. Noise levels above 140dBA can cause damage to hearing after just one exposure.
POINTS OF REFERENCE *Measured in db(A) or Decibels  db 0 The softest sound a person can hear with normal hearing | | db 10 Normal breathing | | db 20 Soft whisper (Romantic very soft whisper (oh baby) (awwww) | | db 30 Whispering at 5 feet | | db 50 Rainfall | | db 60 Normal conversation | | db 65 Smallest portables, (7 meters) | | db 67 TV on low volume, light freeway traffic | | db 79 Garbage disposal, electric drill | | db 79 500 kW GenSet, (very large unit, at 1 Meter, in enclosure) | | db 80 Food Processor, blender, door bell, whistling tea kettle, | db 81 Largest portable generators 250 KW+, (7 meters) | | db 90 500 kW GenSet, (very large unit, at 1 Meter, in enclosure) | | db 110 Shouting in ear | | db 120 Thunder | | db 140 Wife, Girlfriend, Husband or Boyfriend nagging. (you know) |
| Home | Work | Recreation | 50 - refrigerator 50 - 60 electric toothbrush 50 - 75 washing machine 50 - 75 air conditioner 50 - 80 electric shaver 55 - coffee percolator 55 - 70 dishwasher 60 - sewing machine 60 - 85 vacuum cleaner 60 - 95 hair dryer 65 - 80 alarm clock 70 - TV audio 70 - 80 coffee grinder 70 - 95 garbage disposal 75 - 85 flush toilet 80 - pop-up toaster 80 - doorbell 80 - ringing telephone 80 - whistling kettle 85 - food mixer or processor 80 - 90 blender 80 - 95 garbage disposal 110 - squeaky toy held close to the ear 115 - baby crying 135 - noisy squeeze toys 140 - complaining wife, girlfriend or FWB | 40 - quiet office, library 50 - large office 65 - 95 power lawn mower 80 - manual machine, tools 85 - handsaw 90 - tractor 90 - 115 subway 95 - electric drill 100 - factory machinery 100 - woodworking class 105 - snow blower 110 - power saw 110 - leaf blower 120 - chain saw, hammer on nail 120 - pneumatic drills, 120 - heavy machine 120 - jet plane (at ramp) 120 - ambulance siren 125 - chain saw 130 - jackhammer 130 - power drill 130 - air raid 140 - airplane taking off 150 - jet engine taking off 150 - artillery fire at 500 feet 180 - rocket launching from pad | 40 - quiet residential area 70 - freeway traffic 85 -heavy traffic, noisy restaurant 90 - truck, shouted conversation 95 - 110 motorcycle 100 - snowmobile 100 - school dance 100 - boom box 110 - disco 110 - busy video arcade 110 - symphony concert 110 - car horn 110 - 120 rock concert 112 - personal cassette player 117 - football game (stadium) 120 - band concert 125 - auto stereo 130 - stock car races 143 - bicycle horn or complaining wife 150 - firecracker 156 - cap gun 157 - balloon pop 162 - fireworks (at 3 feet) 163 - rifle 166 - handgun 170 - shotgun |
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