The European Commission (EC) has suggested that a maximum level should be placed on all new portable music players.

Researchers have found that as many as one in 10 music lovers who listen to music on portable devices could be risking some permanent hearing loss.

However, the EU plans might include a facility to enable die-hard music fans to override the maximum noise default setting.

The BBC reports that existing EU standards require no specific labelling on music players about noise levels or risks.

The current proposals would be voluntarily among manufacturers, but the EC has said that music played at 80 decibels should be limited to 40 hours per week – and at just nine decibels higher (89 decibels), the weekly listening limit should be five hours.

EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said:

‘It is easy to push up the sound levels on your mp3 player to damagingly loud levels, especially on busy streets or public transport.

‘The evidence is that particularly young people – who are listening to music at high volumes sometimes for hours each week – have no idea they can be putting their hearing at risk. It can take years for the hearing damage to show, and then it is simply too late.’

The proposals to limit noise levels are expected to take some months before they become standard practice. If listeners decide to override the default recommendations, clear warnings will be included with the devices.

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