世界杯球迷需慎防听力损伤

Football fans attending the World Cup risk permanent damage to their hearing from the vuvuzela horns which are the must-have accessory at the tournament in South Africa, a study said Monday.

本周一公布的一项研究称，南非世界杯上球迷必备的一种名叫“巫巫祖拉”的加油工具可能会对人的听力产生永久性损伤。

The din¹（喧嚣） emitting from the tuneless plastic horns is louder than that from a drum or a chainsaw, according to the survey by hearing aid manufacturer Phonak.

It said tests had shown the sound emitted by a vuvuzela was the equivalent to 127 decibels²（分贝） . The sound from a drum was put at 122 decibels while the sound from a referee's whistle（口哨，汽笛） registered 121.8 decibels.

"Extended exposure at just 85 decibels puts us at a risk of permanent noise-induced hearing loss," Phonak said in a statement on the SAPA news agency.

"When subjected to 100 decibels or more, hearing damage can occur in just 15 minutes."

While the horns have gone down a storm among South African supporters, players from rival teams have been less enthusiastic.

Spain midfielder（中场队员） Xabi Alonso has called for it to be banned as it impedes³（防止，阻碍） players' concentration but FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has defended it as a part of South African football culture.