CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO NOISY WORK ENVIRONMENTS DOES AFFECT PREFERRED LEISURE NOISE-LEVELS

Although noise research concentrates principally on the workplace, rec ent studies have shown that preferred leisure noise may be as loud as 10 dBA higher than workplace levels. This two-phase study compared lei sure noise preferences for workers who were exposed to either a 'loud' (greater than or equal to 85 dBA) or 'not loud' (< 85 dBA) work envir onment. Phase 1 examined 110 subjects' noise level preferences that we re recorded before and after work for a one-day observation. Phase 2 r ecorded 12 additional subjects' preferences for five consecutive days. Analysis of both phases' results determined that leisure noise levels prior to work were not significantly different. Those exposed to the 'loud' environment preferred noise levels significantly higher (6.5 to 9 dBA) than their before work levels. Over the five consecutive days (Phase 2) only the 'loud' group preferred noise levels significantly h igher after work (Day 5 versus Day 1). Thus, it can be concluded that 'loud' work environments and consecutive daily exposure to these envir onments do influence preferred leisure noise levels.