TABLE 3.

Occupational noise exposure limit and the proportion of over-limit samples (N = 4539).

Exposure duration (h)	China		American						European Union Directive 2003/10/EC
	GB/T 12801-2008		ACGIH		NIOSH		OSHA		Lower exposure action value		Upper exposure action value		Exposure limit
	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)	LEX dB(A)	Out of limit (%)
8	85	4.3	85	4.3	85	4.3	90	1.5	80	18.6	85	4.3	87	2.6
4	88	2.0
2	91	1.3	88	2.0	88	2.0	95	0.4	83	10.2	88	2.0	88	2.0
1	94	0.4	91	1.3	91	1.3	100	0.2	86	3.5	91	1.3	91	1.3
1/2	97	0.2	94	0.4	94	0.4	105	0.1	89	1.6	94	0.4	94	0.4
1/4	100	0.2
1/8	103	0.1
0	115	0.1					115	0.1