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Keilty, Lauren; Samuelson, Nicholas

Hearing loss, a condition characterized by a partial or total loss of hearing, is associated with a decline in many important aspects of human health. Hearing loss can be induced through excessive noise levels, which damage hair cells contained within the inner ear that transform sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can register. This type of hearing loss is aptly named noise induced hearing loss. Noise induced hearing loss can be caused by a variety of sources, but the one of interest here is the mass transit systems of urban areas. In this study, noise levels inside of train cars on the Expo and Canada lines of Vancouver’s SkyTrain Transit System were measured using a sound meter. Noise levels in old cars on the Expo line were found to be louder than in newer cars on the Expo line. The Expo line was louder than the Canada line, the newest line of the SkyTrain system. Despite the average sound intensity levels of each line being within medically safe levels, there are peaks of sound intensity during rides that are high enough to potentially cause noise induced hearing loss in regular transit goers over long term exposure.

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University of British Columbia. Science One Research Projects

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0421693

Science, Faculty of

Undergraduate

DSpace