Evaluations of Noise Exposure in an Indoor Skatepark

Details

• Personal Author:
  Akbar-Khanzadeh F ; England R
• Description:
  Exposure to noise in recreational facilities is widely accepted, and health professionals are rarely called to assess its magnitude and possible harmful effects. Indoor skateparks in particular may generate excessive noise because of their confined structural nature, possibly exposing users and employees to unacceptable levels of noise. This study used real-time sound level meters (Quest Models 400 and 500) to examine the extent of noise exposure at an indoor skatepark with wooden ramps. Noise sources included the activities of up to 25-30 individuals using skateboards, rollerblades, and bicycles on the ramps. At the facility's front counter, where employees worked, minute-time-weighted average area noise exposure ranged from 50-95 dBA (mean +/- SD of 65 +/- 9 dBA; n = 88) with peak noise levels ranging from 101-145 dB (131 +/- 7 dB). A skateboarder and a bystander (at a distance of 2 meters from the skateboarder) wore personal noise dosimeters concurrently for an extended period of time. The skateboarder's minute-time-weighted average personal exposure ranged from 81-99 dBA (89 +/- 3 dBA; n = 32) with peak noise levels ranging from 114-143 dB (l31 +/- 7 dB). The bystander's minute-time-weighted average personal exposure ranged from 73-85 dBA (.81 +/- 3 dBA; n = 32) with peak noise levels ranging from 111-128 dB (118 +/- 5 dB). The users of this facility were mostly children (ages ranging up to 21 years) and some adults including two employees. The noise was dominantly impulsive. According to World Health Organization recommendations, the peak sound pressure attributed to hearing impairment from impulse sounds in children is 120 dB, and for adults is 140 dB. The results of this study indicate that noise exposure levels in this facility exceeded. recommended limits. In order to protect participants, bystanders, and employees, noise levels should be controlled accordingly. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Noise Exposure Noise Levels Noise Sources Sound Sporting And Athletic Goods
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  32
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057052
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 21-26, 2005, Anaheim, California. Fairfax VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2005 May; :32
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Performing Organization:
  Medical College of Ohio, Department of Public Health, Toledo, OH
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 21-26, 2005, Anaheim, California
• End Date:
  20040630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0e8dc6d203512b3b124003e9a48289167b7576c6c3ba4c6fca8507d131602bfd9c4918c2c6b9559561d27ada7a7f235c1eed7c3017296c418266945409b802be
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214525/cdc_214525_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 250.18 KB ]