European Union May Restrict MP3 Player Volume
Tuesday December 15, 2009
Europeans, worried about the increase in people with hearing loss due to loud MP3 players, are proposing legislation to limit the volume. The proposed legislation would hold it down to 85 decibels maximum. The European Commission is acting because of reports that as many as ten million Europeans could develop permanent hearing loss as a result of listening to too-loud music.
Some want more then suggested limits, they want the technology LIMITED by manufacturers so the user cannot turn it up above 85db, because they do not believe voluntary moderation works and people are in effect deliberately ignoring the danger, particuarly young people.
You may be aware America is not all for it ! nor China ! severe deaf worry db limitations may affect hearing aids and amplified telephones, e.g. the RNID in the UK produces one in excess of 140db for general sale, you don’t have to have hearing loss to buy it.
There seems confusion in that db over 85 suggests loud noise and ergo damaging to the ear, yet many hearing aids do exceed that. HA manufacturers are worried sales would go though the floor since 85db limit would not help many. They argue what is volume ? what is ‘noise’ and excess ? There is no doubt ipods and MP3s and a lot of other recreational music mobiles are in excess of safety levels with no limiter, and are pumping ‘white noise’ along with music into people’s ears, and this makes people more exposed to tinnitus..
Time to pull the plug volume wise on MP3s, ipods, mobiles too ? Why would people want to go deaf ? because that is what will occur…. there are a lot of statistiocs that agree and someone in America asked could they sue ipod makers if their ears are affected. A number here in the UK have them on 6 hours a day plus, unbelievable…
i would think the limitation would only apply to earpieces and things like that. Are they saying that even a player in a room can’t go over 85 Db. that’s crazy. We like to PARTY LOUD!!!