Evaluation of an Impulse Noise Producing Underwater Tool on Hearing in Divers

摘要

Although it is known that continuous noise underwater may be damaging to human hearing, little research has been done on the influence of impulse noise underwater on hearing in humans. NEDU evaluated the effect of an impulse noise producing stud gun, the Ramset 200 HD gun-powder actuated underwater tool, on the hearing in five U.S. Navy divers. Using heavy gun-powder loads and firing 1148 shots underwater into 1/2 thick steel plates, the average peak sound pressure level (SPL) underwater was 185.4 dB. The in-air equivalent peak SPL was 150.4 dB. In summary, firing up to 40 shots consecutively in an open-water, unconfined space did not demonstrate any acoustic injury to the diver.