| The good news is that you don't have to
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| | Too Loud? Use this Decibel Level Chart to
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| lose your hearing as you age. The bad
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| | Gauge Noise EffectsNormal breathing, 10
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| news is, you will - unless you limit your
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| | dB - Just audibleQuiet office,
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| exposure to high noise levels. The most
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| | refrigerator, 50 dB - ComfortableVacuum
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| preventable cause of hearing loss is the
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| | cleaner, hair dryer, inside a car, 70 dB
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| cumulative effect of noise. The
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| | - Intrusive,
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| following suggestions and decibel (dB)
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| | interferes with telephone
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| chart will help you gauge your exposure
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| | conversationAverage city traffic, alarm
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| to noise and reduce your risk of hearing
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| | clock, 80 dB - Annoying,
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| loss:* Wear ear plugs when operating
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| | intrusive, interferes with
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| noisy equipment (i.e. lawn mower,
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| | conversationElectric razor, many
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| motorboat or power tools).* Set car, home
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| | industrial work places, 85 dB - Level
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| and portable stereos to below half
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| | at which hearing damage (8 hours)
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| volume.
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| | beginsSubway, motorcycle, lawn mower, 90
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| Beware of music levels in exercise
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| | dB - Very annoying
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| classes, concerts and bars.* Look for a
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| | Average portable cd player set above
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| product recommended for quiet operation
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| | half volume, 95 dB -
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| when shopping for a fan, air conditioner
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| | Repeated exposure risks permanent
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| or other household appliance.* Don't buy
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| | hearing lossChain saw, subway train,
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| noisy toys. Some toy musical instruments
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| | garbage truck, 100 dB - Damage
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| emit dangerous sound levels, while cap
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| | after 15 minutes exposureInboard
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| guns and firecrackers, exploding near the
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| | motorboat, power saw, highly amplified
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| ear, can damage hearing even if you only
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| | rock music,
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| hear them once.* Any noise which makes
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| | pneumatic drill, 110 dB - Regular
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| your ears ring, a condition called
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| | exposure of 1 minute risks
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| tinnitus, is too loud.* Protect your ears
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| | permanent hearing lossThunderclap
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| if you hunt or shoot guns. Acoustic
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| | (nearby), jet engine (at take off), very
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| trauma - immediate, severe and persistent
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| | loud
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| hearing loss - is directly linked to
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| | nightclub, 120 dB - Threshold of
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| gunfire.* If your workplace is noisy,
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| | painShotgun firing, air-raid siren, 130
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| ensure that ear protectors are provided,
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| | dB - May cause acoustic
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| and wear them.* Make sure printers,
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| | traumaChart Source: Canadian Hearing
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| copiers and other noisy office
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| | Society FoundationNoise pollution is
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| machines aren't grouped together.* Wear
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| | increasing, with city noise doubling
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| ear plugs at rock concerts.* Avoid places
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| | every decade. However, by limiting the
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| where you cannot talk comfortably with
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| | noise that you and
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| another person who is three feet away.*
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| | your children are exposed to, you can
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| Wear ear protectors for loud hobbies like
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| | help protect yourself,
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| snowmobiling or woodworking.How Loud is
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| | and them, from future hearing loss.
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