Everyone's Health

Just how loud is it, really?

• 20-40 db (decibels)

  Rustling leaves
  Whispering
  Average computer
  Library
  
  

• 40-60 db

  Normal conversation
  Interior of a quiet car
  Refrigerator
  Clothes dryer
  
  

• 60-80 db

  Dishwasher
  Vacuum cleaner
  Quiet restaurant
  Typical movie
  
  

• 80-100 db

  Coffee grinder
  Shouted conversation
  Noisy restaurant
  Typical movie trailer
  
  

• Above 90 db Results in hearing loss after sustained exposure: sometimes as little as a few minutes or even seconds
  
  
• 100-120 db

  iPod
  Inboard-motor boat
  Average football stadium
  Power mower
  
  

• 120-140 db

  Rock concert
  Jet taking off
  Jackhammer
  Snowmobile
  
  

• 140-160 db

  Gun or rifle shot
  Firecrackers
  Nearby jet plane
  
  

• 160-180 db

  Rocket launching
  
  

• Threshold of pain:

  begins at 140 db

Note: The decibel scale is logarithmic. A 3 db increase doubles sound intensity; a four-hour period at 88 db is about the same as an eight-hour dose at 85 db. Hearing protection is recommended for exposure of noise over 85 db for an extended period of time.

Sources: FDA, OSHA, DOE, NIOSH, League for the Hard of Hearing, dB Engineering, Noise Pollution Clearinghouse

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