Noise Levels of Routine Non-Occupational Activities

Abstract

Although a number of studies have measured noise levels associated with infrequent, high-intensity non-occupational activities, few data are available on noise levels associated with routine, daily activities. In the current study, 31 construction workers wore datalogging noise dosimeters and simultaneously completed activity logs. These noise and activity data were combined to estimate the exposure levels associated with routine non-occupational activities. Only a small fraction of 128,466 one-minute interval L_eq noise levels exceeded 80 dBA, and the majority of one-minute levels were below 70 dBA. The primary contributor to non-occupational noise exposure was travelling in a car or bus, and time at home was associated with the lowest exposure. Twenty-four hour L_eq levels (L_eq(24)) were also computed for workdays and non-workdays. The percentage of 89 L_eq(24) levels above 80 dBA was higher for workdays than for non-workdays, and the mean L_eq(24) level for workdays was significantly different from non-workdays. These findings indicate that occupational exposures among construction workers contribute far more to their total exposure than does the noise from their routine non-occupational activities.