San Diego Union Tribune article
Tumor tied to loud noise
January 31, 2006
Longtime exposure to loud noise may increase the risk of developing a benign nerve tumor called an acoustic neuroma, Swedish research suggests.
The tumor, which grows inside the skull, can cause constant ringing in the ears, affect balance and result in deafness. It occurs mainly in people over 50.
The findings, published online in The American Journal of Epidemiology, will appear in the Feb. 15 print edition.
The researchers studied 3.9 million people covered by Swedish tumor registries and interviewed 146 people with acoustic neuromas. They were compared with a control group of 564 people who did not have the tumors. The participants discussed their lifetime exposure to noise exceeding 80 decibels, about the noise level of city traffic.
In general, the longer people were exposed to loud noises, the more likely they were to develop acoustic neuroma.
Exposure to loud music presented the greatest risk. People who regularly listened to loud music, including those in the music industry, were more than twice as likely as others to have the tumors.
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My husband likes to play music really loud. I'm doomed!
