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Auditory hazard from airbag noise exposure.
1U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005-5425, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|November 26, 1999
Summary
Airbag noise can cause significant, permanent hearing loss. Studies on cats show intense acoustic stimulation from airbag deployment may pose an auditory hazard to humans.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Occupational Safety
- Automotive Safety
Background:
- Airbag systems generate intense acoustic stimuli during deployment.
- Limited research exists on the auditory hazard of airbag noise using actual auditory systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential auditory hazard of airbag deployment noise.
- To quantify hearing threshold shifts in response to airbag acoustic stimulation.
Main Methods:
- 32 anesthetized cats were exposed to airbag deployments in a pickup truck.
- Hearing was assessed using evoked-response audiometry before and after exposure.
- Exposure conditions varied (doors open, closed, sealed) with different airbag activations.
Main Results:
- Immediate average threshold shift of 60 dB at 4.0 kHz was observed.
- An average permanent threshold shift of 37 dB was recorded at 6 months.
- Peak sound pressures reached 167-173 dB, with high unweighted energies.
Conclusions:
- Airbag noise presents a significant risk of permanent hearing loss.
- Extrapolation of cat data suggests potential auditory risk for human ears.
- Further research is warranted to assess human susceptibility to airbag noise-induced hearing loss.
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