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Cape Town - A vuvuzela makes more racket than a chainsaw, hearing aid manufacturer Phonak warned world cup fans on Monday.
It said tests had shown that the instrument emitted an ear-piercing 127 decibels - louder than the 90 decibels of a lawnmower and the 100 of a chainsaw.
"Extended exposure at just 85 decibels puts us at a risk of permanent noise-induced hearing loss," Phonak said in a statement.
"When subjected to 100 decibels or more, hearing damage can occur in just 15 minutes."
Second most harmful to footballing ears was the air-horn, popular with English fans, which exposed ears to damage-inducing levels of 123.6dB.
This was followed by the drum, which reached 122 decibels, and the referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels.
"But passionate fans alone can be just as problematic - two singing supporters reached 121.6 decibels," Phonak said.
It said an audiologist advised that once the hearing damage was done it was irreversible, so fans going to live games - or even sitting in noisy pubs - should take earplugs.
The tests were done as part of Hear the World, an initiative by Phonak to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss.
Phonak's findings echo those of University of Pretoria researchers.
Despite the experts' concerns over the hearing issue, and reservations by some foreign players who have experienced a stadium full of vuvuzelas, Fifa has given the green light for the instruments for world cup games.
It said tests had shown that the instrument emitted an ear-piercing 127 decibels - louder than the 90 decibels of a lawnmower and the 100 of a chainsaw.
"Extended exposure at just 85 decibels puts us at a risk of permanent noise-induced hearing loss," Phonak said in a statement.
"When subjected to 100 decibels or more, hearing damage can occur in just 15 minutes."
Second most harmful to footballing ears was the air-horn, popular with English fans, which exposed ears to damage-inducing levels of 123.6dB.
This was followed by the drum, which reached 122 decibels, and the referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels.
"But passionate fans alone can be just as problematic - two singing supporters reached 121.6 decibels," Phonak said.
It said an audiologist advised that once the hearing damage was done it was irreversible, so fans going to live games - or even sitting in noisy pubs - should take earplugs.
The tests were done as part of Hear the World, an initiative by Phonak to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss.
Phonak's findings echo those of University of Pretoria researchers.
Despite the experts' concerns over the hearing issue, and reservations by some foreign players who have experienced a stadium full of vuvuzelas, Fifa has given the green light for the instruments for world cup games.
