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Some American health and safety agencies ( such as OSHA-Occupational Safety and Health Administration and MSHA-Mine Safety and Health Administration ), use an exchange rate of 5 dB.

While this exchange rate is simpler to use, it drastically underestimates the damage caused by very loud noise.

For example, at 115 dB, a 3 dB exchange rate would limit exposure to about half a minute ; the 5 dB exchange rate allows 15 minutes.