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MP3 Players Could Cause Future Hearing Loss

Posted on: Monday, 13 October 2008, 13:30 CDT | Related Video

A EU study found that one in 10 people with personal MP3 or CD players could suffer permanent hearing loss because their music is too loud.

Those who listen at high volume for more than one hour per day over five years risk permanent harm, researchers said.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, said in a statement: "There has been increasing concern about exposure from the new generation of personal music players which can reproduce sounds at very high volumes without loss of quality."

The study said the risk for hearing damage depends on sound level and exposure time and more and more young people were exposed to the significant threat that leisure noise posed to hearing.

Between 50 and 100 million people are estimated to use personal music players on a daily basis.

The study was conducted because of concerns over widespread use of music players among young people.

EU safety standards restrict the noise level of personal music players to 100 decibels but there is increasing concern about excessive exposure to music at high volumes.

However, many listeners turn up the volume above harmful levels of over 89 decibels to block out noise from traffic or public transport. The scientists calculated the number of people in that risk category at between five and 10 percent of listeners.

The Commission experts estimate personal music player sales between 184 and 246 million just over the last four years, of which MP3 players range between 124 and 165 million.

"I am concerned that so many young people ... who are frequent users of personal music players and mobile phones at high acoustic levels, may be unknowingly damaging their hearing irrevocably," said Meglena Kuneva, the EU's consumer affairs commissioner.

The Commission will consider changes to safety standards to protect youngsters and look into whether technical improvements could minimize hearing damage.

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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