Rich Fiscus
28 Jan 2009 12:57
On Tuesday the European Commission sponsored the Personal Music Players Stakeholders' Conference in response to a study commissioned last Fall which found as many as 10% of people who use personal music players may be at risk for hearing loss. The study was conducted by the EC Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General who issued their initial report in October.
In her keynote address to open the one day conference, European Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva indicated an interest in hearing from the industry and consumer interest representatives present to plot a course for future research, technology development, and potentially even regulation. She noted "The Scientific Committee opinion highlights that, if consumers use their personal music players for only one hour per day each week at more than 89 decibels, they would exceed the current limits in place for noise allowed in the workplace."
Last year's report warns "Literature data indicate that excessive acute exposures to PMPs music at maximal or near maximal output volume can produce reversible hearing impairment (temporary threshold shift) up to 30 dB at 4 kHz in some individuals after short time (one or more hours) of exposure." However it also cautions that more research needs to be done in order to answer a number of outstanding questions.