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Subway Noise: Hard On Nerves & Hearing

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Oct 11, 2006 8:54 am US/Eastern

Subway Noise: Hard On Nerves & Hearing

by Magee Hickey
NEW YORK (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Noise levels are so high on subway platforms that you could suffer permanent hearing damage, a new study found. (AP file photo)

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Your daily ride on a crowded subway can be hard on your nerves. But a new study says it can also be hard on your hearing.

Riding the trains for just 30 minutes a day can eventually lead to permanent hearing damage, according to a new study from Columbia University.

Researchers analyzed both the subway noise inside the cars and on station platforms, and they found both regularly exceeded safe limits.

Regular subway noise averages about 95 decibels, but Columbia researchers found it reaches 106 decibels at some subway platforms.

By comparison, a diesel truck produces 100 decibels of noise and a lawn mower produces 107 decibels.

The EPA says you should keep exposure to 100 decibels of noise to less than a minute and a half -- not the usual length of a subway ride.

The New York City Transit Authority blasted the report, calling it "fundamentally flawed due to inadequate research. It fails to take into account several noise abatement measures that have been undertaken."

The MTA also cites improve tracks and wheel technology to make your daily subway ride a whole lot quieter.

Some subway systems in other countries actually use rubber tires for a quieter ride.

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