The European Commission is looking into creating new legislation that will force MP3 manufacturers to restrict the maximum sound volume of their products in an effort to better protect owner hearing.
Exact details related to the legislation haven't been released by lawmakers, but it's likely the EC wants product manufacturers to create standards -- which must be independently approved -- related to hearing and sound volume.
There have been numerous reports written by researchers who note an increase in hearing loss due to MP3 player and portable music player (PMP) use. Specifically, there has been additional scrutiny for hearing loss related to the use of the stock ear buds sold with Apple iPod MP3 players. The criticism has led the company to create newer versions of ear buds to better protect against hearing loss, though purchasing a new pair is still advisable.
According to research compiled by the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, about 5 to 10 percent of MP3 player listeners face permanent hearing issues related to sound volume. The European Parliament is expected to create at least one -- if not more -- pieces of legislation related to volume control, hoping to drop that number below 5 percent.
The problem has become so wide spread that some reviewers are now warning readers that it'd be a good idea to consider purchasing a pair of ear buds to use instead of the stock ones shipped with their new gadget.
I'm normally against direct government involvement in the tech industry, except related to antitrust issues, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing how manufacturers make adjustments to control maximum volume levels.
