Listening to MP3 players and other personal music players at high volumes for long periods of time can cause loss of hearing and tinnitus, a ringing sensation in the ears, the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks said.
It found that 5-10 percent of MP3 users risk permanent hearing loss if they listen to a personal music player for more than one hour per day, each week at high volume settings for a period of at least 5 years. No cure is currently known for hearing loss or tinnitus, the committee noted in its report.
"Let's be frank -- we are looking at a catastrophe unless something is done soon," Stephen Russell of the pan-European ANEC consumer safety group said.
EU sounds alarm on MP3 player hearing risks
Posted on Sunday, February 01 2009 @ 6:52 CET by Thomas De MaesschalckEarlier this week the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks warned up to 10 million young Europeans are in danger of damaging their hearing by turning the volume of their MP3 players too loud.
