Some recreational activities are dangerously loud and will cause permanent damage to our hearing. Additionally, many recreational activities create loud noises which interfere with the peace and quiet of the community. Noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss in the 28 million people with impaired hearing in the United States. Studies also indicate that noise negatively impacts the health and quality of life of millions of Americans. Recent health statistics suggest that the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss is occurring at younger and younger ages.
Recreational activities contribute to the cumulative effects of excessive noise exposure.
In general, the louder the sound, the less time required before hearing will be affected. Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA will eventually harm your hearing. While regulations exist to protect a person's hearing in the workplace, similar regulations do not exist to protect the public's hearing in recreational activities. Further, the noise emitted from many recreational activities, at levels well below 85 dBA, has been found to negatively impact the health and quality of life of neighboring community members. Firecrackers create sound levels from 125 - 155 dBA at an average distance of 10 feet.