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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
Whispering at 5 feet |
|
db 30
Soft whisper |
|
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 |
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db 120
Thunder |
|
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
|
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,
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
150 - firecracker
156 - cap gun
157 - balloon pop
162 - fireworks (at 3 feet)
163 - rifle
166 - handgun
170 - shotgun
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