Application of the Extreme Value Distribution to Estimate the Uncertainty of Peak Sound Pressure Levels at the Workplace.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to develop a method for the statistical inference of the maximum peak sound pressure level and of the associated uncertainty. Both quantities are requested by the EU directive 2003/10/EC for a complete and solid assessment of the noise exposure at the workp...

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Publicado en:Annals of Occupational Hygiene Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 775 - 788
Autor principal: Lenzuni, Paolo
Formato: equations & formulas research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Jul2015
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      vid: 59
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      pub: Oxford University Press / USA
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        atl: Application of the Extreme Value Distribution to Estimate the Uncertainty of Peak Sound Pressure Levels at the Workplace.
      aug:
        au: Lenzuni, Paolo
        affil: Florence Research Unit, Italian National Workers' Compensation Authority, Via delle Porte Nuove 61, 50144 Florence, Italy
      sug:
        subj:
          Occupational Exposure
          Noise
          Work Environment
          Models, Statistical
          Inferential Statistics
          Probability
          Human
          Uncertainty
          Sound
      ab: Objectives: The purpose of this article is to develop a method for the statistical inference of the maximum peak sound pressure level and of the associated uncertainty. Both quantities are requested by the EU directive 2003/10/EC for a complete and solid assessment of the noise exposure at the workplace. Methods: Based on the characteristics of the sound pressure waveform, it is hypothesized that the distribution of the measured peak sound pressure levels follows the extreme value distribution. The maximum peak level is estimated as the largest member of a finite population following this probability distribution. The associated uncertainty is also discussed, taking into account not only the contribution due to the incomplete sampling but also the contribution due to the finite precision of the instrumentation. Results: The largest of the set of measured peak levels underestimates the maximum peak sound pressure level. The underestimate can be as large as 4 dB if the number of measurements is limited to 3-4, which is common practice in occupational noise assessment. The extended uncertainty is also quite large (~2.5 dB), with a weak dependence on the sampling details. Conclusions: Following the procedure outlined in this article, a reliable comparison between the peak sound pressure levels measured in a workplace and the EU directive action limits is possible. Noncompliance can occur even when the largest of the set of measured peak levels is several dB below such limits.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        equations & formulas
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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