Noise exposure and auditory risk from air-filled balloon bursts

Latex party balloons filled with air are widely used in a variety of activities including acoustic measurements, educational demonstrations, and leisure. In acoustic research and professional practice, the burst of the balloon is employed as an impulse sound source to obtain room acoustic parameters. Due to its presumed harmless appearance and leisure connotations, acoustic practitioners and lay users often inflate and pop balloons unprotected and unsuspectingly without being aware of the serious auditory risk that those bursts may entail to their hearing health. This research investigates for the first time the noise exposure from popping air-filled latex balloons for a range of likely settings and assesses the risks of hearing damage against a range of relevant international occupational health regulations. Twenty-seven representative exposure scenarios involving peak sound pressure level measurements from three balloon sizes’ bursts were taken at three exposure distances in three different rooms. Results were analysed to estimate unprotected and protected exposure, auditory risks, critical distances, and an estimated permissible number of unprotected burst events. It was found that the exposure of an unprotected person holding and puncturing balloons of two commonly used sizes exceeded various regulatory exposure limits and carried a risk of permanent hearing damage. Wearing standardised hearing protection would reduce the exceeded exposure to eliminate the risk. The exposure of unprotected persons standing at 3 m or further from any balloon size burst was well below regulatory limits and the risk of hearing damage was small. It is expected that the findings, insights and safety guidance provided will help to raise awareness, change attitudes and practices of users. This will reduce the risk of hearing damage and aid professionals to comply with applicable occupational health and safety regulations.