Iowa parents are being warned to pay close attention to the toys they’re tossing in the cart for their kids. Nine of the 11 toys tested this year by the Sight and Hearing Association made noises above 100-decibels. Spokeswoman Julie Sylvester says that’s equivalent to the blare of a chainsaw. Sylvester says “anything above 85 decibels, which is the start of OSHA regulations for hearing protection in the workplace, is considered some sort of risk depending on the amount of time you’re in that environment.” She says her group “tested 11 toys and all of them were above 98 decibels. Nine out of the 11 were above 100 decibels which is extremely loud. That is risk of hearing damage in less than two hours.” Sylvester says the book “Barney Songs” tops the list at 115 decibels, which is the equivalent of a jet ski and poses a risk to hearing after just 15 minutes of exposure.
