Noise Exposure on the London Underground, an Observational Study over a Decade.

OBJECTIVES: There are no hearing protection regulations in place for passengers using public transport, such as the London Underground. In light of this, we sought to examine sound pressure levels experienced by regular users of the London Underground.

METHODS: Sound pressure levels (A-weighted decibels: dBA) were taken on moving London Underground carriages between Euston and South Wimbledon on the Northern Line, and between Euston and Vauxhall on the Victoria Line, during 2006 and 2018. In addition, carriage sound pressure levels travelling within Zone 1 of the London Underground were tested in 2019. Three experimental and three technical repeats were undertaken using a hand-held calibrated multi-function sound level meter.

RESULTS: Passengers are routinely and consistently subjected to sound pressure levels exceeding 80 dBA, with levels sometimes reaching over 100 dBA.

CONCLUSION: This study is unique within the literature, with no published studies outlining exposure levels for London Underground passengers. It provides evidence of elevated noise exposure to passengers, consistently along large stretches of the London Underground, over a prolonged study period (2006-2019).

KEY WORDS: Sensorineural hearing losssound pressureexposureLondonundergroundtube.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A Laryngoscope, 2020.