Discover the new Cleanil wipes

From 1st July onwards, the Cleanil wipes will be changing size. Still just as effective, they come in a soft sachet.

100% biodegradable wipes

The environment is a highly topical issue; COTRAL Laboratory are aware of this and offer you 100% biodegradable wipes. Furthermore, they are manufactured using a new technology that limits discharge of chlorine into the environment.

The harmful effects of noise on the body

Find out why it is important to protect your hearing

Exposure to noise may results in hearing losses and cause disturbances in your body from 85 dB(A) and more, corresponding to the noise of a street of heavy traffic or the noise in a workshop. Ranging from mere auditory fatigue to deafness; discover the harmful effects of noise.

Auditory fatigue, temporary hearing loss

This "transient" hearing loss sets in after several hours of exposure to more than 80 dB(A). It primarily concerns the high frequency band: 4000 Hz. A recovery period is required in order to restore normal hearing.

The types of deafness

Traumatic forms of deafness are related to brief yet very violent exposure. The latter may cause substantial damage. Some impulsive noises may result in a genuine hearing injury and lead to permanent deafness (an explosion for example).

Gradual forms of deafness occur following prolonged exposures in an acoustic environment exceeding 80dB(A). These forms of deafness may be total or partial. More than two million individuals in France are reported to suffer prolonged exposure at their place of work. Some will be affected by irreversible deafness.

Occupational deafness is assessed according to well defined medical, professional and administrative criteria. Only monitoring of hearing by the occupational physician allows detection of a person's sensitivity to noise and review the hearing losses. During the examination, the occupational physician performs an audiogram using an audiometer.

The effects of noise on the body

The hearing loss, following daily exposures over years to noise levels on the order of 65 to 90 decibels, may be joined by:

• cardiovascular diseases
• gastrointestinal disorders
• losses of balance
• psychic disorders...

Download the Auditools awareness poster about the effects of noise on the body (PDF - 256 Kb)