Inner ear damage from toy cap pistols and fire-crackers.
Groups of guinea pigs comprising 7 animals in each group were exposed to 10, 50 or 100 exposures to fire-crackers or 10, 50 or 100 exposures to toy cap pistol shots. An additional group of 7 animals comprised the control material. The exposures were performed with 15-s intervals at 0.25 m distance for the toy cap pistol shots and at 0.8 m for the fire-crackers. The peak sound level at the ear was 155 dBC for both impulsive sounds. After a 3-week survival period the animals were anesthetized and decapitated. The cochleas were examined histologically in surface preparations and read double-blind. One animal in each group exposed to 10 fire-crackers and 10 toy cap pistol shots showed sensory cell loss. With 50 or 100 toy cap pistol shots or fire-cracker exposures, 24 out of 28 animals showed pronounced sensory cell loss. The present results clearly indicate the risk for noise-induced hearing loss in children playing with toy cap guns and fire-crackers.
Axelsson
A
A
Department of Audiology, University of Göteborg, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Sweden.
Hellström
P A
PA
Altschuler
R
R
Miller
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000473:pathology*; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010988:Play and Playthings