Description of the measurement of an individual’s continuous sound exposure during a 31‐day period

A dosimeter based on the equal energy rule with range from 55 to 110 dB was used to monitor continuously the nise exposure of one subject. The subject, who is the second author of this report, works in a relatively quiet laboratory area. The daily A‐weighted average sound level was measured for each 24‐h period [L_eq(24)] beginning at approximately 8:00 a.m. During the day the noise exposure associated with specific activities was noted. The 31‐day average sound level was 76 dB while the daily L_eq(24) values varied from a low of 59 dB to a high of 83 dB. The type of activity that contributed most of the subject’s total sound dose was night‐time parties at private homes or nightclubs. Five such parties accounted for 42% of his total sound dose. One exposure at an automobile hobby shop and three outings at a bowling alley contibuted another 27% to the total sound dose. If these outside recreational activities had been avoided, the 31‐day average sound level would have been reduced to 71 dB. The problems involved in monitoring a 24‐h noise exposure as well as future plans for more elaborate studies are discussed.