this post was submitted on 06 May 2024
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No Stupid Questions
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Police and emergency responder sirens are about 120 dB at 1 meter. The duration of exposure is similar to an Amber Alert tone. I don't see people suing cities for ruptured eardrums from exposure to sirens.
Long-term exposure over 85 db can cause hearing loss, but rupturing an eardrum takes a lot higher intensity - 165+ dB. That's a shot from a large caliber weapon from a few feet away. I know it can rupture an eardrum because it ruptured mine (shooting partner emptied his 50 cal Desert Eagle next to me before I got my protection on).
eta: sorry - replied to wrong comment.
Sound pressure falls off as a function of the square of the distance. So if that jackhammer is 3 m away you are only receiving 11% of the sound energy that the operator is.