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The prevalence and type of social noise exposure in young adults in England

The prevalence and type of social noise exposure in young adults in England
The prevalence and type of social noise exposure in young adults in England
There have been several recent reports on the potential risk to hearing from various types of social noise exposure. However, there are few population-based data to substantiate a case for concern. During the last 10-20 years use of personal cassette players (PCPs) has become very much more prevalent, and sound levels in public nightclubs and discotheques are reported to have increased. This study investigated the prevalence and types of significant social noise exposure in a representative population sample of 356 18-25 year olds in Nottingham. Subjects were interviewed in detail about all types of lifetime noise exposure. Noise measurements were also made for both nightclubs and PCPs. In the present sample, 18.8% of young adults had been exposed to significant noise from social activities, compared with 3.5% from occupational noise and 2.9% from gunfire noise. This indicates that social noise exposure has tripled since the early 1980s in the UK. Most of the present day exposure, measured in terms of sound energy, comes from nightclubs rather than PCPs. Moreover, 66% of subjects attending nightclubs or rock concerts reported temporary effects on their hearing or tinnitus. As will be reported in a later publication, any persistent effect of significant noise exposure on 18-25 year olds is difficult to show, however these data suggest that further work is indicated to study the possibility of sub-clinical damage, and also to consider the implications for employees of nightclubs.
noise, health, prevalence, noise immission, social noise, young adults
41-56
Smith, P.A.
5e79b1da-f1c4-4426-bdae-adac2c1367ae
Davis, A.
72a3a591-f100-4c7a-b772-fb2f7a77c3fb
Ferguson, M.
7863cff2-b6de-449d-8431-45177b864a95
Lutman, M.E.
765efa2b-f995-4ab4-b9bf-acbb6bb6f890
Smith, P.A.
5e79b1da-f1c4-4426-bdae-adac2c1367ae
Davis, A.
72a3a591-f100-4c7a-b772-fb2f7a77c3fb
Ferguson, M.
7863cff2-b6de-449d-8431-45177b864a95
Lutman, M.E.
765efa2b-f995-4ab4-b9bf-acbb6bb6f890

Smith, P.A., Davis, A., Ferguson, M. and Lutman, M.E. (2000) The prevalence and type of social noise exposure in young adults in England. Noise & Health, 6 (16), 41-56.

Record type: Article

Abstract

There have been several recent reports on the potential risk to hearing from various types of social noise exposure. However, there are few population-based data to substantiate a case for concern. During the last 10-20 years use of personal cassette players (PCPs) has become very much more prevalent, and sound levels in public nightclubs and discotheques are reported to have increased. This study investigated the prevalence and types of significant social noise exposure in a representative population sample of 356 18-25 year olds in Nottingham. Subjects were interviewed in detail about all types of lifetime noise exposure. Noise measurements were also made for both nightclubs and PCPs. In the present sample, 18.8% of young adults had been exposed to significant noise from social activities, compared with 3.5% from occupational noise and 2.9% from gunfire noise. This indicates that social noise exposure has tripled since the early 1980s in the UK. Most of the present day exposure, measured in terms of sound energy, comes from nightclubs rather than PCPs. Moreover, 66% of subjects attending nightclubs or rock concerts reported temporary effects on their hearing or tinnitus. As will be reported in a later publication, any persistent effect of significant noise exposure on 18-25 year olds is difficult to show, however these data suggest that further work is indicated to study the possibility of sub-clinical damage, and also to consider the implications for employees of nightclubs.

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More information

Published date: 2000
Keywords: noise, health, prevalence, noise immission, social noise, young adults
Organisations: Human Sciences Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 10506
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/10506
PURE UUID: 2c253dc8-95f2-413a-bfe6-9f8cb3b90600

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 May 2005
Last modified: 22 Jul 2022 20:22

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Contributors

Author: P.A. Smith
Author: A. Davis
Author: M. Ferguson
Author: M.E. Lutman

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