Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart

Here are some interesting numbers, collected from a variety of sources, that help one to understand the volume levels of various sources and how they can affect our hearing. Environmental Noise Weakest sound heard Whisper Quiet Library at ! #ormal conversation at "! &elephone dial tone (ity &raffic )inside car* &rain whistle at %00!, &ruck &raffic ,ackhammer at %0! -ubway train at .00! Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss Hand /rill 0ower mower at "! -nowmobile, 3otorcycle 0ower saw at "! -andblasting, Loud 4ock (oncert Pain begins 0neumatic riveter at 5! ven short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure !"#$ hearing protection ,et engine at 100! 1. 6auge -hotgun Blast /eath of hearing tissue Loudest sound possible 0dB "0dB 0$ %dB '0dB '%dB +0dB +%dB +%dB 90 - 95dB +'dB 102dB 100dB 110dB 11%dB 125dB 1.%dB 1%0dB 150dB 1 %dB 1'0dB 1+5dB

OSHA Daily Permissible Noise Level E posure Hours per day ' 5 " -ound level +0dB +.dB +%dB +2dB

. 1.% 1 .% ..% or less

100dB 10.dB 10%dB 110dB 11%dB

N!OSH Daily Permissible Noise Level E posure Hours per day ' 5 " . 1.% 1 .% ..% or less 0 -ound level '%dB7 ' dB7 ''dB7 '+dB7 +0dB7 +.dB7 +5dB7 +2dB7 100dB7 11.dB7

Perceptions o" !ncreases in Decibel Level 8mperceptible (hange Barely 0erceptible (hange (learly #oticeable (hange 7bout &wice as Loud 7bout 9our &imes as Loud 1dB "dB %dB 10dB .0dB

Sound Levels o" #usic #ormal piano practice 9ortissimo -inger, "! (hamber music, small auditorium 0iano 9ortissimo :iolin (ello 0 $20dB 20dB 2% $ '%dB '5 $ 10"dB '. $ +.dB '% $111dB

;boe 9lute 0iccolo (larinet 9rench horn &rombone &ympani < bass drum Walkman on %=10 -ymphonic music peak 7mplifier, rock, 5$ ! 4ock music peak #;&>-?

+%$11.dB +. $10"dB +0 $10 dB '% $ 115dB +0 $ 10 dB '% $ 115dB 10 dB +5dB 1.0 $ 1"2dB 1.0dB 1%0dB

;ne$third of the total power of a 2%$piece orchestra comes from the bass drum. High fre@uency sounds of .$5,000 HA are the most damaging. &he uppermost octave of the piccolo is .,05'$5,0+ HA. 7ging causes gradual hearing loss, mostly in the high fre@uencies. -peech reception is not seriously impaired until there is about "0 dB lossB by that time severe damage may have occurred. Hypertension and various psychological difficulties can be related to noise eCposure. &he incidence of hearing loss in classical musicians has been estimated at 5$5"D, in rock musicians 1"$"0D. 4ecent #8;-H studies of sound levels from weapons fires have shown that they may range from a low of 155 dB -0L for small caliber weapons such as a 0... caliber rifle to as high as a 12. dB -0L for a 0."%2 caliber revolver. &ouble ear protection is recommended for shooters, combining soft, insertable ear plugs and eCternal ear muffs.

-tatistics for the /ecibel )Loudness* (omparison (hart were taken from a study by 3arshall (hasin , 3.-c., 7ud)(*, 9777, (entre for Human 0erformance < Health, ;ntario, (anada. &here were some conflicting readings and, in many cases, authors did not specify at what distance the readings were taken or what the musician was actually playing. 8n general, when there were several readings, the higher one was chosen.