With MP3s Louder Than Pneumatic Drills, Millions of Brits are Risking Hearing Loss

Millions of Brits are unaware that they are risking hearing loss by turning up the volumes on their MP3s so high, it's louder than a pneumatic drill, a recent survey has revealed. One in six listens to their MP3 player at a level that is more deafening than an aeroplane taking off, according to the study conducted by The Hearing Company.

The study, which polled 2,000 adults, found that one in 20 regularly plug into their music, which is more thunderous than a train hurtling past in a station, a car alarm ringing in your ears and even screaming children.

"These results prove that most Brits are blissfully unaware how a simple everyday pleasure of listening to music can actually be harmful to their hearing," the Daily Mail quoted Peter Worthington, director of The Hearing Company, as saying.

"Damage begins when ears are exposed to noises louder than 85 decibels for prolonged periods of time.

"A pneumatic drill, for example, reaches 110 decibels, which means that millions of Brits are listening to their music at a level of almost 40 per cent higher than is naturally safe. A shocking statistic," he said.

Nine in ten respondents said they didn't know what the safe level of sound was for their ears and 43 per cent said they weren't bothered that loud music might be damaging their hearing.

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Source-ANI