'Excessive noise bad for health'

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Fourteen million of the country's 20 million population are mobile phone users. Mobile phone users are prone to suffer from hearing loss, said Technology and Research Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday.

The Minister said making the public aware of this danger is a national responsibility. The Technology and Research Ministry plans to conduct many awareness programs in this regard. She said MP3 players in mobile phones are used by mostly young people to listen to music. This is a growing trend.

The Minister was addressing a press conference organized by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) of the Technology and Research Ministry.

She noted that ear buds and in-ear head phones are the portable music devices most often used during long distance travelling.

"MP3 player users are accustomed to increase the volume to its maximum level specially inside the buses and trains. But nobody is aware of how loud a noise the small Ear Bud produces inside the ear.

"Everyday we experience sound in our environment such as sounds from televisions, radios and traffics etc. We normally hear these at a safe level that does not affect out hearing.

"When we are exposed to harmful noises, the sensitive structure in our inner ear known as 'Hair Cells' can be damaged. Ear cells cannot be restored to its former condition without using a Hearing Aid, the Minister said. The ITI's Electro Technology Laboratory provides world class acoustic engineering consultancy specializing in noise measurement and control for industrial applications, she said.

"The world's best equipment which could be used to measure sound is available at ITI," said ITI Senior Deputy Director Ananda Pannala.

"A good rule is to avoid noises that are 'too loud', 'too close' and 'too long', he added.