Those deafening New York City subways

This article, referenced by FuturePundit, is hardly news -- though it may provide more detail than previous surveys of the sort:

In a new survey of noise levels of the New York City transit system, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that exposure to noise levels in subways have the potential to exceed recommended guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the research, as little as 30 minutes of exposure to decibel levels measured in the New York City transit system per day has the potential to result in hearing loss. . .

"At the highest level obtained on the platform (106 decibels), the allowable limit under WHO and EPA is only 30 seconds. More than 1 in 10 of the platform measurements exceeded 100 decibels -- which translates into an allowable limit of only 1.5 minutes". . .

Further, Dr. Gershon notes that "maximum levels inside of subway cars were even greater". . .

As noted in the FuturePundit post's commments, there isn't much to be done, in that noise-deadening insulation would add weight to the cars and increase energy consumption, while sound-absorbing materials in the stations would require much more maintenance than the present concrete and tile surfaces. Some of the loudest stations are so because they are built where the track curves sharply -- again, not something that is remediable at this late date.

Although there is something amiss when an essential public facility cannot be utilized safely without hearing protection -- would a private employer be allowed to get away with this? -- at least earplugs are cheap. Foam disposables can be bought in quantity for pennies apiece, and will do a much better job than clamping your hands to your head as the 6 screeches its way into Union Square.

My personal NYC noise anecdote goes back to when I was a new grad student riding bus and train daily to school. For a few days I tried listening to a Walkman during the trip, only to give it up for good after stepping off the bus and realizing how far up the volume had had to be just to be audible during the ride. Nowadays one can make use of noise-cancelling headphones, which are another story entirely and indeed the only kind of headphones I'd consider using under such circumstances.

Posted by David on October 26, 2006 8:13 PM