In a recent study, American researchers have discovered that the noise levels from urban traffic have reached dangerous thresholds that can cause permanent hearing damage. It is estimated that approximately 30 million people worldwide suffer from noise-induced hearing loss. To better understand this issue, scientists measured noise levels in New York’s public transportation system. They found that light rail systems produce around 79.4 decibels, while subway cars reach 80.4 decibels. On the subway platforms, noise levels can climb as high as 102.1 decibels, and bus platforms often hit about 101.6 decibels.
Interestingly, the data shows that noise levels are generally higher outside of vehicles compared to inside, with larger stations producing more noise than smaller ones. Underground areas tend to be noisier than surface-level locations, highlighting the need for increased awareness of sound exposure in these environments.
The research also reveals that even short periods of exposure can be harmful. For instance, spending just two minutes on a noisy platform daily may begin to damage auditory nerves, leading to long-term hearing loss. Chronic exposure to even slightly loud environments can accumulate over time, and small increases in noise levels can significantly raise the risk of harm. For example, at 95 decibels, the risk of damage is ten times greater than at 85 decibels, and 100 times higher than at 75 decibels. A drop of just 10 decibels in hearing acuity can severely impact one's ability to understand speech.
To protect hearing, experts recommend using noise-canceling earplugs or earmuffs, which can effectively reduce noise to safer levels. However, they caution against using devices like MP3 players in noisy environments, as people often turn up the volume to drown out background noise, which can cause further damage. Wearing protective gear when commuting or in noisy areas is strongly advised.
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