1. Effects of noise on health
Exposure to high noise levels for even a short period can result in temporary
loss of hearing. Exposure to noise over a long period can result in serious and
permanent loss of hearing. You may not realise that your hearing is being
damaged until people ask you whether you are having trouble hearing them.
Noise causes changes in air pressure in the inner ear, which can damage the
body’s hearing mechanism. Temporary loss of hearing or buzzing in your ears
is a sign that noise has caused some damage.
As well as damage to your hearing, noise can make communication difficult,
make you less efficient, disturb your sleep, and make you tired and irritable.
For undisturbed sleep, the World Health Organization recommends guideline
noise levels of 30 decibels (dB), and outdoor levels during the day of 50dB to
prevent you becoming ‘moderately annoyed’.
Other physical effects of noise include constriction of blood vessels, muscle
tension, increased blood pressure and pulse rate, and changes to stomach
and abdomen movement.
At work, noise can stop you concentrating. It can distract you and make you
unsafe. Damage to your hearing from exposure to loud noise is preventable.
The risks can be controlled by good management.
The sensitivity of people’s hearing varies, so the effect on them of exposure to
noise varies too.
Your ears don’t distinguish between noise suffered at work or enjoyed at
leisure – the possibility of damage is the same.
© Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning ("QIA") Copyright 2007