title: Auditory risk of air rifles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the impulse noise exposure and auditory risk for air rifle users for both youth and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acoustic characteristics were examined and the auditory risk estimates were evaluated using contemporary damage-risk criteria for unprotected adult listeners and the 120-dB peak limit and LAeq75 exposure limit suggested by the World Health Organization (1999) for children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Impulses were generated by nine pellet air rifles and one BB air rifle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the air rifles generated peak levels that exceeded the 140 dB peak limit for adults, and eight (80%) exceeded the 120 dB peak SPL limit for youth. In general, for both adults and youth, there is minimal auditory risk when shooting fewer than 100 unprotected shots with pellet air rifles. Air rifles with suppressors were less hazardous than those without suppressors, and the pellet air rifles with higher velocities were generally more hazardous than those with lower velocities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To minimize auditory risk, youth should utilize air rifles with an integrated suppressor and lower velocity ratings. Air rifle shooters are advised to wear hearing protection whenever engaging in shooting activities in order to gain self-efficacy and model appropriate hearing health behaviors necessary for recreational firearm use.
authors: a Northern Illinois University, Emeritus , DeKalb , USA .
authors: James E
authors: JE
authors: Lankford
authors: b Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences, University of Northern Colorado , Greeley , USA .
authors: Deanna K
authors: DK
authors: Meinke
authors: c Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology , Western Michigan University , Kalamazoo , USA .
authors: Gregory A
authors: GA
authors: Flamme
authors: b Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences, University of Northern Colorado , Greeley , USA .
authors: Donald S
authors: DS
authors: Finan
authors: d Department of Communication Disorders , Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant , USA , and.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Stewart
authors: c Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology , Western Michigan University , Kalamazoo , USA .
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Tasko
authors: e Division of Applied Research and Technology , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , USA.
authors: William J
authors: WJ
authors: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D005389:Firearms; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011998:Recreation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013018:Sound Spectrography
keywords: Air rifles; air guns; auditory risk; firearms; impulse noise; noise-induced hearing loss; recreational shooting; youth health risk