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Noise Patrick N. Breysse, PhD, CIH Peter S.J. Lees, PhD, CIH Johns Hopkins University
Section A Introduction and Definitions
Noise and Sound
NoiseExcessive or unwanted sound which potentially results in annoyance and/or hearing loss (can be from occupational and/or non-occupational sources) SoundA pressure variation (wave) that travels through air and is detected by the human ear Continued 4
Noise and Sound
Physical manifestation of noise is a pressure wave Caused by vibrating surfaces We cant measure acoustic energy very well, but we can measure sound pressure well Sound pressure is a surrogate for acoustic energy 5
Noise Focus is on preventing hearing loss associated with noise exposure There are other physiologic effects of noise Noise-induced hearing loss has been observed for centuries Prior to the Industrial Revolution, few people were exposed to high noise levels 6
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Noise-exposed workers are employed in wide range of industries Agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation, military
Continued
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
NIOSH estimates that > 4 million production workers are exposed to hazardous noise This represents approximately 17% of all production workers
Section B Physics of Sound
Physics of Sound Theory The vibration of a source causes pressure changes in air which result in pressure waves Perceived sound is comprised of numerous pressure waves of varying characteristics
Continued
10
Physics of Sound Pressure wave characteristics AmplitudeThe amount of sound pressure measured in decibels (dB) FrequencyThe rate of vibration per unit time measured in cycles per second, more commonly known as hertz (Hz); range of normal perception for young person is 20 20,000 Hz 11
Octave Bands Quantifies effective frequencies without looking at each frequency one at a time Standardized notation used to characterize the frequency dependence of noise
Continued
12
Octave Bands Characterized by center frequency Covering range of human hearing (2020,000 Hz)
Continued
13
Octave Bands fc = (f1f2)1/2 Where: fc is center frequency and f1 and f2 are lower and upper band edges respectively
Hz 31.5, 62, 125, 250, 500, 1K, 2K, 4K, 8K, 16K
14
Sound Pressure Pressure is fundamental to acoustics Definition Pressure = force per unit of area Units Newtons per square meter (N/m2) Called a Pascal (modern unit) Dynes per square centimeter (D/cm2)Not commonly used 15
Sound Pressure Human hearing covers a wide range of sound pressures Threshold of hearing: 0.00002 Pa Loud noise: 200 Pa
Continued
16
Sound Pressure Decibel (dB) scale is a log-based scale developed to quantify sound Compresses range to 0140 dB Scale starts at zero when sound pressure equals the threshold of human hearing
17
Section C Decibel Notation
Sound Pressure Level (SPL) and Sound Pressure (Pa)
19
Sound Pressure Decibel scale
acoustic energy decibel = 10Log reference energy
Reference energy is the threshold of human hearing 10 * Bel = decibel (dB) Sound pressure level (SPL) 20
Decibel Scale Acoustic energy cannot be readily measured Acoustic energy is proportional to the square of the sound pressure Therefore
p2 dB = 10 log 2 p o Continued 21
Decibel Scale Which is the same as
p p = dB =10 log 20 log p p o o
Where p is the sound pressure, and po is the reference which is equal to the threshold of human hearing (i.e., 0.00002 Pa or 20 uPa) 22
Sound Pressure Exercises
If sound pressure is 0.02 Pa, what is the sound pressure level?
0.02Pa 20 Log = 60dB 0.00002Pa
Continued
23
Sound Pressure Exercises
If sound pressure is 0.06 Pa, what is the sound pressure level?
0.06Pa 20 Log = 69.5dB 0.00002Pa
24
Adding Sound Pressure Levels
Since SPLs are based on a log scale, they cannot be added directly I.e., 80 dB + 80 dB 160 dB SPL T
= 10 Log
10 i =1
SPL i 10
Where: SPLT is the total sound pressure level, and SPLi is the ith sound pressure level to be summed Continued 25
Adding Sound Pressure Levels
Given two machines producing 80 dB each, what is the total SPL?
SPL T = 10 Log = 10 Log 10 = 83 dB
10 i =1
SPL i 10
( + 10 = 10 Log (2 10 ) (80/10) 8
(80/10)
) Continued 26
Adding Sound Pressure Levels
Important rule of thumb Adding two sound pressure levels of equal value will always result in a 3 dB increase! 80 dB + 80 dB = 83 dB 100 dB + 100 dB = 103 dB 40 dB + 40 dB = 43 dB
Continued
27
Adding Sound Pressure Levels
Given four machines producing 100 dB, 91dB, 90 dB, and 89 dB respectively, what is the total sound pressure level? SPL T SPL i n 10 = 10 Log 10 i= 1 (100/10)
= 10 Log ( 10 = 101 .2 dB
+ 10
(91/10)
+ 10
(90/10)
+ 10
(89/10)
) 28
= 10 Log ( 1010 + 10 9.1 + 10 9 + 10 8 .9 )
Section D Sound Weighting Factors
Fletcher-Munson Curves
Adapted by CTLT
30
Sound Weighting Weighting comes from FletcherMunson Curves A 40 Phon equal loudness contour B 70 Phon equal loudness contour C 100 Phon equal loudness contour Continued 31
Sound Weighting dBA used for risk purposes De-emphasizes low and very high frequencies which pose less of a risk to hearing dBC used for hearing protector selection
Continued
32
Sound Weighting Sound weighting filters are incorporated into noise-measuring equipment
33
Section E Standards and Guidelines
Noise Standards and Guidelines
Three parts to any standard or guideline: 1. Criteria level Eight-hour average SPL above which risk for hearing loss exists (usually either 85 or 90 dBA)
Continued
35
Noise Standards and Guidelines
Three parts to any standard or guideline: 2. Threshold level SPL below which no damage occurs 3. Exchange rate Based on a damage model assumption Trade-off between exposure level and exposure time 36
OSHA Noise PEL
Same as originally adopted in 1971 Criteria level (PEL): 90 dBA Threshold level: 90 dBA Practical implicationCan be exposed to 89 dBA forever Exchange rate: 5 dB 95 dBA for 4 hours is as bad as 90 dBA for 8 hours 37
OSHA PEL (1971Present)
Exposure Time, Hrs No time limit 8 4 2 1 0.5 PEL, dBA <90 90 95 100 105 110
38
Hearing Conservation Amendment to PEL
Hearing Conservation Amendment (HCA) 19811983 Recognition that PEL was not protective Action level = 50% of PEL = hearing conservation program require Criteria level = 90 dBA Threshold level = 80 dBA Exchange rate = 5 dBA 39
Cn C1 C 2 % Dose = + + + 100 Tn T1 T 2 C = the actual time exposed at each dB level T = the time allowed to be exposed at each dB level 41
% Noise Dose Exercise 1A
Given four hours of 90 dBA exposure, two hours of 95 dBA exposure, and two hours of 85 dBA exposure, what is the % dose using the PEL? (Is this person overexposed compared to PEL?)
4 2 2 + + 100 = 100% of PEL 8 4
Answer: Borderline, since dose = 100% 42
% Noise Dose Exercise 1B
Given four hours of 90 dBA exposure, two hours of 95 dBA exposure, and two hours of 85 dBA exposure, what is the % dose using the HCA? (Does this person need to be in a hearing conservation program?) 2 2 4 + + 100 = 112.5% 4 16 8
Answer: Yes, since dose is >50%
43
% Noise Dose Exercise 2A
Given four hrs of 80 dBA exposure, two hours of 90 dBA exposure, and two hours of 85 dBA exposure, what is the % dose using the PEL? (Is this person overexposed compared to PEL?)
4 2 2 + + 100 = 25% of PEL 8
Answer: No, since dose <100% 44
% Noise Dose Exercise 2B
Given four hours of 80 dBA exposure, two hours of 90 dBA exposure, and two hours of 85 dBA exposure, what is the % dose using the HCA? (Does this person need to be in a hearing conservation program?)
2 2 4 + + 100 = 50% of PEL 32 8 16 Answer: Borderline, since dose = 50%
45
Noise Exposure In evaluating worker exposure to noise, the industrial hygienist should answer two main questions: 1. Is the OSHA PEL met or exceeded? 2. Does the worker need to be in the hearing conservation program? Modern dosimeters calculate dose both ways 46
TLV and REL for Noise
The ACGIH TLV and NIOSH REL recommended for noise is as follows: Criteria level = 85 dBA, Threshold level = 80 dBA Exchange rate = 3 dBA These guidelines are much more protective
Challenges Reducing noise exposure in industry is difficult since guarding and soundproofing materials make machines harder to clean or are hard to clean themselves, noise reduction is expensive, etc. Hearing protection is not very effective because it is often not used properly and is uncomfortable 49
