| According to a recent "The Detroit News" article, | | | | on the adverse health effects of noise pollution." What |
| "Noise isn't just aggravating; it can damage your | | | | specific types of health hazards, however, are |
| health." What's a modern-day person to do to save his | | | | associated with noise? The answer may surprise you. |
| or her hearing and bodily soundness? The | | | | The World Health Organization spells the issues right |
| Vibro-Insulator line of noise, shock and vibration control | | | | out. "WHO has seven categories of adverse health |
| products can help. | | | | effects caused by noise pollution: hearing impairment, |
| In today's high-tech, electronic-focused world, noise is | | | | interference with spoken communication, sleep |
| everywhere. Many city dwellers have become so | | | | disturbances, cardiovascular disturbances, disturbances |
| accustomed to the unending onslaught to their | | | | in mental health, impaired task performance including |
| eardrums that they've developed an immunity to the | | | | cognitive and language development, and negative |
| auditory commotion. But suburbians and ruralites are no | | | | social behavior and annoyance reactions." That's a lot |
| safer off. Power lawn mowers, barking dogs, | | | | of residual health problems from something most of us |
| turbo-powered leaf blowers and blaring stereos are | | | | don't even think of as unhealthy, a fact that indicates |
| just some of the earache culprits "The Detroit News" | | | | what we allow in our ears may be just as important |
| points to. | | | | as the foods we allow in our body. |
| The article went on to reveal these startling statistics: | | | | Consider these decibel levels for sounds we encounter |
| "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), | | | | in our everyday lives:o a gas-powered lawnmower |
| the sound from mowing a typical suburban lot with a | | | | (88-94 dB)o a weed whacker (94-96 dB)o a leaf |
| riding lawnmower (90 to 95 decibels) can be heard 1/4 | | | | blower (95-105 dB)o a baby crying (110 dB)o a loud |
| mile away and pollutes 100 acres with noise." | | | | squeaky toy (110-135 dB)o a stereo system (100-110 |
| But the news gets worse, with all the experts | | | | dB) |
| consulted in the article agreeing on the detrimental | | | | Putting those levels into perspective, the article's author |
| impact of noise. Former U.S. Surgeon General, William | | | | states, "According to the EPA, the average healthy |
| H. Stewart, comes right to the point and declares, | | | | outdoor sound level is below 55 dB. Indoor sound levels |
| "Noise must be considered a hazard to... health." In their | | | | should be less than 45 dB (about the sound of a |
| March 2007 "Southern Medical Journal" article, Louis | | | | refrigerator). Anything above these levels adds stress |
| Hagler, M.D., and Lisa Goines, R.N. concurred. Therein, | | | | to our already hectic lives." Oh, my aching ears! |
| they "called noise pollution a plague" and "pointed out | | | | Thank goodness for the Vibro-Insulator line of isolators |
| that environmental-noise pollution is not just an | | | | and mounts. These products are used for the control |
| aggravation; it is a constantly increasing threat to | | | | of noise, vibration, and shock. From one pound to one |
| health." | | | | ton, they're available in the right type of mount for |
| The National Library of Medicine adds even further fuel | | | | every noise-reduction application. |
| to the fire. Its "database lists more than 5,000 citations | | | | |