Author Archives: exposurelab

During the Pandemic: Less Noise Help Ears But Not Hearts or Brains

Over the last year, the noise was reduced by 3 decibel levels based on the research results from Dr. Neitzel’s team. That’s enough to potentially reduce adverse health impacts, such as hearing loss. However, all the other negative emotions leading to the stress raise concerns of increased health impacts on hearts and brains. The heartContinue reading “During the Pandemic: Less Noise Help Ears But Not Hearts or Brains”

Our web-based tool is introduced by NOISH for the noise exposure estimate

The web-based tool developed by our lab allows epidemiologists, industrial hygienists, occupational health practitioners to access the noise exposure estimates based on the results from the noise Job Exposure Matrix(JEM). The JEM is based on the 989,179 valid noise measurement from 1960s to 2015, representing 274 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and 430 Standard Occupational ClassificationContinue reading “Our web-based tool is introduced by NOISH for the noise exposure estimate”

Covid-19 Shutdowns Reduced Unhealthy Noise Exposure

Dr. Neitzel and Lauren were interviewed by an independent journalist and healthcare contributor to Forbes.com to talk about the Apply Hearing Study and the first paper just published in Environmental Research Letters for it. In the study, researchers collected participants’ Apple Watch and iPhone headphone data to understand the sound and audio exposure in the dailyContinue reading “Covid-19 Shutdowns Reduced Unhealthy Noise Exposure”

Stay-at-home orders cut noise exposure nearly in half

People’s exposure to environmental noise dropped nearly in half during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to University of Michigan researchers who analyzed data from the Apple Hearing Study. Researchers at U-M’s School of Public Health and Apple Inc. looked at noise exposure data from volunteer Apple Watch users in Florida, New York,Continue reading “Stay-at-home orders cut noise exposure nearly in half”

Our first paper for Apple Hearing Study was just published

Our first paper for Apple Hearing Study was just published! You can find the paper, Impacts of COVID-19-related social distancing measures on personal environmental sound exposures, for more details. The Apple Hearing Study is a partnership between the University of Michigan and Apple to study sound exposure and its impact on hearing health. This groundbreakingContinue reading “Our first paper for Apple Hearing Study was just published”

Apple will no longer bundle a power adapter with the new Apple Watch

Last month, Apple said it will no longer bundle a power adapter with the new Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE smartwatches.  By encouraging people to take advantage of the old charger and reuse the accessories they have at home, Apple says it will reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. “The environmental impactsContinue reading “Apple will no longer bundle a power adapter with the new Apple Watch”

Michigan State sewers search for signs of COVID-19 in wastewater

Local 4 News followed scientists into the sewers at Michigan State University as they searched for early warning signs of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in wastewater. Similar testing is being done at the University of Michigan and is as the previous post. The next challenge is to find a way for the results to be brought into some type ofContinue reading “Michigan State sewers search for signs of COVID-19 in wastewater”

U-M researchers look for coronavirus in campus environment

Dr. Rick Neitzel and several other researchers are developing methods to detect COVID-19 virus in the environment and on surfaces around the Ann Arbor campus. This approach will provide an additional perspective from the work of other researchers, which has focused mostly on epidemiological approaches such as tracking infection rates. They are looking in sewers, on campus busesContinue reading “U-M researchers look for coronavirus in campus environment”