Awareness and Protection Campaign Against the Harmful Effects of Excessively Amplified Music

Many people will agree that musical enjoyment is more intense at higher volume levels. However, with the advent of MP3 players and the growing and diverse range of musical entertainment in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the population—especially young people—is increasingly exposed to excessively amplified music. The harmful effects that this exposure can cause, as well as effective ways to prevent them while still enjoying music, are often unknown to the general public.

A sound source is harmful to the human ear not only because of its intensity, but also because of the duration of exposure. Thus, brief exposure to a 100-decibel sound is not dangerous, but exposure to the same sound exceeding 90 minutes per week can cause irreversible hearing damage. Since MP3 players and sound levels at rock concerts often far exceed critical thresholds, the impact on the hearing of music consumers is evident.

The auditory cells of the inner ear, which convert sound waves into nerve signals, are active cells comparable to muscle cells. Just as a muscle becomes fatigued after intense and/or prolonged effort, auditory cells are affected by excessive activity, either in intensity or duration. Damage to these cells may manifest as hypersensitivity to sound, ringing or buzzing (tinnitus), or sudden hearing loss. If the auditory cells can recover after such strain, these symptoms will be temporary. However, if exposure is too intense, too long, or too frequent, the cells deteriorate permanently, symptoms such as ringing or hearing loss persist, and quality of life can be significantly affected.

To limit the long-term impact of these harmful effects on the auditory and psychological health of the population, the Ministry of Health is launching a large-scale awareness campaign. The campaign primarily targets consumers of amplified music, as well as venues and organizers of musical events.

Information Tools

Through an informational leaflet, downloadable in the “Learn More” box below, the public is informed about ways to enjoy music while protecting their ears. A very clear graphic showing a volume knob presents the decibel scale and indicates risk thresholds with concrete examples. The leaflet also provides useful advice on how to protect hearing during concerts. Finally, signs of hearing disorders are listed, along with the importance of an ENT check-up if these persist.

To offer practical protection to the public, the Ministry of Health is distributing free earplugs and posters to rock concert organizers and to owners of discotheques and other nightclubs.

To best reach the target audience, the Ministry of Health is organizing this awareness and prevention campaign with the support of the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Family Affairs, and the National Youth Service.