The European Commission is expected to demand lower default
sound levels for all MP3 players sold in Europe.
The new regulations aimed at preventing damage to hearing are
expected be announced by senior European Union officials today,
according to the
Financial Times.
Although users will be able to override the sound level settings
mandated by the EC, officials hope to prevent millions of users
from hearing loss.
The EC will mandate that Information about the risks of damage
to hearing is printed on the packaging of all MP3 players sold in
Europe.
iPod maker Apple
introduced software in 2006 to enable users to set noise limits
after the firm was accused contributing to hearing loss in a US
lawsuit.
The lawsuit claimed the iPod music player could produce sounds
of up to 115 decibels, even though some studies have shown that
listening at that level can cause hearing damage.
According to the EU's scientific research arm listening to MP3
players at high levels for an hour a day can lead to permanent
hearing loss in five years.
Up to 10 million of the 100 million Europeans who use MP3
players on a daily basis could be affected, the researchers
said.
The research showed exposure to music above 89 decibels could
cause damage.
Two thirds of users of MP3 players in the UK listen to music at
levels above 85 decibels according to the Royal National Institute
for the Deaf.