December 15, 2003 Hello! How is your hearing? "Children's toys are often very noisy.
In some cases, they constitute a direct danger to children's hearing
ability. Some types of battery-driven toy guns and pistols can -
when used in ordinary play - create noise of between 110 and 135
dB, corresponding to the noise generated by a heavy truck or of
a typical rock concert. Less, but consistent, noise from music boxes
or robots (85-95 dB) can also be damaging. In many workplaces, employees
are recommended to wear hearing protection where noise levels exceed
85 dB." Depending on whether you are the one playing with the toy, or not, you may consider the noise from toys a positive aspect or an additional annoyance. While rarely do people consider this noise a health hazard, "Almost 15 percent of children ages 6 to 17 show signs of hearing loss, according to a 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, at this time there are no federal regulations in the United States that limit the noise levels of toys." http://www.nypirg.org/consumer/toysafety03/loud.html Consumers, kids, and parents may never think about the affects, but it is something that has been concerning people who study such things for years. "Toys are too noisy! This is the message we are hearing from a growing number of experts on noise and hearing loss, who warn us that an array of children's toys - from baby rattles and young children's squeaky toys to older children's cap guns-are so loud that they are hazardous to children's hearing.... "Presently the Hazardous Products Act of Canada prohibits the sale of any toy that makes or emits sound exceeding 100 decibels, measured at the distance that the toy 'ordinarily would be from the ear of the child using it.' Toys producing noise of an explosive nature, such as firecrackers or toys imitating firearms, are exempt from the Hazardous Products Act's sound level regulations. The safety of these toys is regulated by the Explosives Division of Energy Mines and Resources Canada. There are no Canadian noise level standards for fireworks, with the exception of toy pistol caps, which must not exceed 153 decibels measured at a distance of 45 centimetres from a cap -a noise level higher than that near a jet engine!... "According to the Montreal researchers, recent research tends to show that the inner ear of the child is more sensitive to noise and may be susceptible to hearing loss for noise exposures that are safe for adults. They feel, then, that no child's toy should make noise exceeding 75 decibels, regardless of the amount of time that the child might play with it.... "A 1989 University of Montreal study found that almost 85% of children's toys on the Quebec market exceed the World Health Organization's noise limit, and are hazardous to children's hearing. In fact, some toys exceed even the 100 decibel limits imposed by the Hazardous Products Act." http://www.chs.ca/info/noise/noisytoys.html So, what does this mean for you? "In a recent study by the League for
the Hard of Hearing (1998), 46% of third-graders reported that their
ears ring sometimes (a warning sign of a potential noise-induced
hearing loss). Recreational activities contribute to the cumulative
effects of excessive noise exposure....In general, the louder the
sound, the less time required before hearing will be affected. Experts
agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA will eventually
harm your hearing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) recommends that hearing protection be worn in the workplace
when loudness levels and exposure time exceed the allowable standards.
For example, 15 minutes exposure at 115 dBA is considered dangerous
to hearing and even an exposure of less than 2 minutes at 130 dBA
may be hazardous to hearing. While regulations exist to protect
a person's hearing in the workplace, similar regulations do not
exist to protect the public's hearing in recreational activities...." How loud are the activities that you enjoy? "Some Examples of Dangerously Loud Recreational Activities
Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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