10 million people in danger of deafness from music players

REMINISCENT of the refrain shouted by parents everywhere, makers of personal music players have been told by the European Commission to turn it down, as research says up to 10 million people in Europe are in danger of going deaf.

The EU wants the volume setting on music players such as MP3s to be set at a safe level automatically when users turn them on. This would be 80 decibels, louder than normal conversation which is 60 decibels.

If listeners want them any higher, they will have to adjust the controls but not before they receive a warning telling them they are risking their hearing.