Since watchOS 6, Apple Watch users can depend on the Noise app, which gauges the amount of noise in their surroundings and issues alerts in case any ear harm is imminent. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) both recommend that people not be exposed to noise levels exceeding 70 decibels (dBA) on an annual average.
This information is used in the study to assess the effects of noise exposure on hearing health, which was carried out in collaboration with Apple and the University of Michigan. The study’s initial findings, which revealed that 25% of participants had at some point been exposed to sound levels greater than the advised limit, were released by Apple in 2021.
Most frequently, this occurred while people were in traffic, using machinery, or travelling by public transportation.
According to the most recent statistics, 77 million adults in the US, or one in three, are exposed to excessive noise levels. The most people are impacted by loud noise in the states with the largest populations. This encompasses New York, Florida, Texas, and California.
