Risk of noise-induced hearing loss following exposure to Chinese firecrackers.

Firecrackers produce sound impulses reaching peak levels measured at the ear sometimes in excess of 160 dB when fired at 2 m distance. These sound levels are potentially hazardous to the ear. Current damage risk criteria for impulse sounds show that for 10 impulses the peak levels should not exceed 149 dB(lin,peak) at the ear. The A-weighted, impulse (integration time 35 ms) levels should not exceed 125 dB(A,imp) at the ear for 10 impulses.