Individuals who work in airports, factories, and on construction sites are accustomed to wearing hearing protection, but most of us are exposed to dangerous noise levels nearly everywhere we go! The typical city dweller or suburbanite is routinely exposed to noise levels of 50 to 70 decibels (dBA), and levels can reach 110 dBA near construction zones, airports, and highways. Excessive workplace noise has a detrimental effect on worker productivity and accuracy, and sustained exposure to 85 dBA or higher can cause permanent hearing loss.
