Is Balloon Pop at 15-20m (50-60ft) Dangerous?

[Bill Bauer]

Here is the data

Source: http://www.hearingreview.com/2017/08/know-loud-balloons-can/

This data can be used to compute the probable dB level at a distance of 15 meters. I am not sure I know what formula to use...

 

[GregCA]

This data can be used to compute the probable dB level at a distance of 15 meters. I am not sure I know what formula to use...

You can use this web page.

 

[TuneOut]

Some people have a habit of instilling fear and rationalize it by thinking they are doing you a favor.

There are also those at the other end of the spectrum. Those who give blanket advice on what's safe, thinking it applies to everyone, because it doesn't effect them or because OSHA said it was safe.

 

[Bill Bauer]

You can use this web page.

Thanks!

According to this online calculator (the one below the text "Calculation of the sound level L2, which is found at the distance r2"), if at 1 meter the noise of a popping balloon is about 150 dB, then at 15 meters the author of this thread would have been exposed to 126.5 dB, and at 20 meters it falls to 124 dB... (I bet most of us [including myself and @Julien87 ] would have guessed that it would be a lot quieter at 20 meters...)

By the way, when I enter the information that at 0.5 meters it is 157.03dB, the calculator tells me that at 1 meter the noise is 151.01 dB, which is close to the 151.26 reported in the table above. So this calculator appears to be reasonably accurate.

 

[Jiri]

Foncky said: ↑
A popped balloon made it worse (permanently). But it did take a few weeks to get worse. I didn't realize at first and was exposed to loud sounds several times right after the balloon.

This is what gets me every time. "A few weeks to get worse". I asked about this a doctor and he explained to me that this is why it is called acoustic trauma - you should know right away something is wrong.

Either way, in my opinion firecrackers are potentialy much more dangerous than balloons (you can see them floating above, see the total number of them, their size, move away from them, etc.)

@vaseto99 I think you should be fine, given the distance. If you are still stressed out about it, feel pain or notice any change in your hearing it'd proly be for the best to go and see your doctor.

Also, next time you can use this nice inverse square law calculator http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Acoustic/isprob2.html