Estimated leisure-time noise exposure -A Finnish Questionnaire survey

摘要

Leisure-time noise is an environmental problem that is often uncontrolled by regulations. However studies from several countries indicate an increased incidence of hearing damage among teenagers as a result of recreational exposure to noise. Information is lacking, nevertheless, on the overall leisure-time noise exposure of the general public. Therefore, a Finnish research project was initiated to gather data on the total weekly exposure of the Finnish population to leisure-time noise. The time devoted to noisy leisure-time activities, the self-evaluated loudness of the activities, and hearing symptoms (i.e, tinnitus, pain in the ear and hearing loss due to noise exposure) were studied. A questionnaire survey on weekly leisure-time activities among different age groups of the Finnish population was used for this purpose, and no measurements of sound levels or hearing loss were attempted. The SPSSprogram was used to analyse the data. Weekly noise levels of over 85 dBA were estimated for 9 % of the subjects between the age of 25 and 55 years (n = 1323) and 51 % of those aged 12-16 (n = 405) years. The incidence of hearing symptoms seemed to correlate with age and the weekly dose of leisure-time noise. The noisiest leisure-time activities were going to night-clubs, using home tools, playing in a band, shooting firearms and attending motor sport events. It was concluded that people who have several noisy leisure-time activities and spend a great deal of time in these activities, and also possibly have a noisy job, may be at risk of hearing loss.