What noises rank highly on a decibel chart?


Quick Answer

A jackhammer at close distance, a jet engine airliner taking off, a loud rock concert and a 12-gauge shotgun blast are all noises that rank very highly on a decibel chart. A jackhammer from 50 feet away is about 95 decibels, whereas a shotgun blast is 165 decibels.

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Full Answer

The loudest sound possible within the Earth's atmosphere would measure approximately 194 decibels, but hearing tissue death begins for human beings at 180 decibels. Even short-term exposure to sounds exceeding 140 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage in humans, and pain usually begins at approximately 125 decibels. For comparison, a normal conversation between two people only reaches approximately 60 to 65 decibels.

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