If your ears seem to bleed a little more while waiting at the Union Square subway stop, it's because that is the loudest subway platform in the system. The screeching of train brakes can reach as high as 98.6 decibels. According to the Post's article, exposure to noises louder than 90 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage [National Institute of Health]; average conversation registers is about 60 decibels and a noisy restaurant or heavy traffic is 85 decibels. Interesting, wonder what kind of restuarant is that noisy...the Restaurant?
Published Nov 6, 2003
Modified Mar 6, 2008
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