Measuring Recreational Firearm Noise (original) (raw)
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Auditory Risk to Unprotected Bystanders Exposed to Firearm Noise
2011
Background: What is the risk of hearing loss for someone standing next to a shooter? Friends, spouses, children, and other shooters are often present during hunting and recreational shooting activities, and these bystanders seem likely to underestimate the hazard posed by noise from someone else's firearm. Hunters use hearing protection inconsistently, and there is little reason to expect higher use rates among bystanders. Acoustic characteristics and estimates of auditory risk from gunfire noise next to the shooter were assessed in this study.
Occupational exposure to impulse noise associated with shooting
International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE, 2011
Shooting training is associated with exposure to a considerable amount of unique noise. We wanted to evaluate noise exposure during such training. Our observations especially apply to professional sport shooters, but they are also valid for shooting coaches/instructors. We collected acoustic signals in 10-, 25- and 50-m as well as open-air shooting ranges. The recorded material was analysed with orthogonal, adaptive parameterization by Shur. The mean duration of a single acoustic signal was 250-800 ms with the C-weighted sound peak pressure level of 138.2-165.2 dB. Shooters may be exposed to as many as 600-1350 acoustic impulses during a training unit. The actual load for the hearing organ of a professional shooter or a shooting coach is ~200 000 acoustic stimuli in a year-long training macrocycle. Orthogonal, adaptive parameterization by Shur makes safe scheduling of shooters' training possible.
Analysis of Options to Reduce Noise Exposure to Shooters on Sport Shooting Ranges
Multidisciplinary Aspects of Production Engineering
The intensive development of sport shooting and the significant increase in the number of people using sport and recreational shooting ranges also increases the risk of hearing damage to shooters, due to exposure to impulse noise from the shots of firearms. This article discusses the methodology for assessing shooters’ exposure to noise and identifies and extensively discusses possible ways to minimise this exposure. It then describes a research experiment carried out to measure and calculate the effectiveness of noise reduction by means of acoustic silencers when shooting with typical weapons in the most popular sporting and hunting calibres. The experiment also included firing tests with subsonic ammunition. On this basis, conclusions were drawn regarding the possibility of reducing impulse noise during shooting and the possibility of eliminating the risk of hearing damage.
The reduction of gunshot noise and auditory risk through the use of firearm suppressors
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2016
Law enforcement, security, and military personnel train with small-caliber firearms that present a significant risk of noise induced hearing loss for the operator and range instructors. Measurements of three rifles and one pistol equipped with suppressors were conducted at an outdoor firing range using subsonic and supersonic ammunition. Suppressed and unsuppressed recordings were analyzed. Microphones were located to the left of the muzzle, to the right and left of the shooter’s head, and one meter behind the shooter’s head at the nominal instructor’s position. Recordings were collected with a National Instruments PXI 1082 chassis with an NI 4499 data acquisition board at a 200 kHz sampling rate. Analysis of the peak sound pressure levels (dB SPL) and 8-h equivalent A-weighted energy (LAeq8) were conducted. The suppressors reduced the peak between 15 and 25 dB SPL and the LAeq8 between 8 and 28 dB. Reduced noise levels at the source will reduce auditory risk but do not necessarily ...
2016
the opportunity and invaluable guidance throughout this research. His dynamism, vision, sincerity and motivation have deeply inspired me. It was a great privilege and honor to carry out my work under his guidance. I am extremely grateful for what he has offered me not only as a mentor but also as a human being. I would also like to thank him for his patience, empathy, and most importantly, understanding me as a person. My Special thanks go to Prof. Steven Shaw for his support in gunshot recordings. I am extremely grateful to Angelo Borzino, for his support in the interpretation of recorded signals. I am extending my gratitude to Tyler Davis, for his assistance during the whole period. Finally, my thanks go to my parents and all my friends and staff of this department, who has directly and indirectly, supported me to complete the research work.
The Interaction of Continuous and Impulse Noise: Audiometric Effects
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1973
MEETING ß ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA the applicability of an automatic monitor and self-calibration system for frequency and hearing level employing relevant computer peripheral equipment and a mini-digital computer. Unacceptable drifts in frequency and hearing level were intentionally introduced into the system by respectively turning the frequency selector dial of a function generator and an attenuator. After monitoring and, if indicated, computerized calibration, the signals were subsequently sampled via traditional calibration equipment to determine the frequency and hearing level parameters of the computer-revised signals. The obtained data were analyzed in terms of means, standard deviations, average deviations, and maximum errors encountered at each of six audiometric frequencies (250 Hz-8 kHz). The results of this study indicate the feasibility of providing frequent stimulus monitoring and self-calibration within a system of computerized audiometrics. •This research was supported, in part, by the University Research Council of the University of North Carolina.] EE7. Acoustical Signature of Some Hand Guns Commonly Employed in Law Enforcement. M. T. KOBAL AND P. G. WEISSLER, Institute for Basic Standards, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. 20234.•Small condenser microphones and a storage oscilloscope were used to record the N-wave signatures from a 9-mm Ruger, 0.357 magnum, 0.41 magnum, 0.22 long rifle, 0.44 magnum, 12-gauge shotgun, and 0.22 rifle. Measurements were made at the ear of the person shooting and at the approximate position of a neighbor at a firing range. Data on peak SPL and durations (A and B durations) are given, as well as 'data obtained at a practice firing range. The results are discussed from the point of view of using ear defenders to protect against temporary and permanent threshold shift incurred during practice. [Research supported by the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.-1 MEETING ß ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Assessment of military shooting noise
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2008
The assessment of the impact of noise exposure on the population is a fundamental step in noise abatement. It includes the establishment of exposure-response relationships and the setting of impact thresholds that specify the protection level for the population and eventually trigger mitigating measures to reduce noise exposure. In Switzerland, the impact thresholds should be set so that, in the light of the current scientific knowledge and experience, noise exposure below these thresholds do not seriously disturb the well-being of the population. For most current noise sources such as roads, railways and airports impact thresholds are already defined as part of the noise abatement legislation. Yet, no impact thresholds for military shooting grounds have been specified so far. Therefore a study was carried out in order to assess the impact of military noise exposure. The research included the calculation of noise exposure of eight military shooting grounds ranging from small infantry shooting ranges to expanded artillery and tank training facilities as well as a survey with over 1000 residents in the neighbourhood of these sites. Preliminary results suggest that although the responses of the population to military noise are rather dispersed, data should be sufficiently consistent to establish an exposure-response relationship.
Assessment of community noise exposure from rifle shooting
Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1982
A study of noise conditions around a suburban rifle range was carried out in conjunction with a social survey of nearby residents. These studies were aimed at providing some information on the relationship between noise levels from rifle shooting and human reaction to the noise. The exposure at each surveyed residence was calculated in terms of eight exposure measures. All units gave similar low correlations with residents' reactions, but from other points of view the energy-mean value of the Sound Exposure Level (possibly A-weighted) seems the most useful unit. Units relying on the peak overpressure would not be generalizable to other impulsive noise,sources. Even in the case of Sound Exposure Level, the relationship between exposure and reaction is not generalizable to non-impulsive noises, such as aircraft overflights, without some "correction". This indicates that units such as Ldn in which noise exposures from different sources are added on an energy basis are inappropriate for measurement of rifle noise. Noise from the range was found to be very directional, and variable between days. It therefore appears that accurate characterization of such noise requires comparatively extensive measurements on a number of days. 690. Predicting community response to blast noise.
Gunshots Sound Analysis, Identification, and Impact on Hearing
Particularly, I would like to thank Prof. Rafik Goubran for his support, guidance and enlightenment through all these years and Dr. David Lo for being a wonderful colleague, supervisor and friend. Without him, the thesis would not have been possible. My thanks also go to Master Corporal Alex Saumure; recording the data was simple with him taking charge of all the logistics and his ensuring that we had all the equipment. Finally, I would like to thank my love, Chantal Boutin. I am so lucky to have you by my side.