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Bloomberg to take on loud ear buds

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New York City’s smoke, sugar, salt-phobic mayor wants to check another apparent health issue off the list — planning for the city to take on loud music played through ear buds.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s health officials are planning a social media campaign — expected to cost $250,000 — to raise awareness about the hearing-loss dangers of loud music played on personal devices, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

“With public and private support, a public-education campaign is being developed to raise awareness about safe use of personal music players … and risks of loud and long listening,” Nancy Clark, the city Health Department’s assistant commissioner of environmental-disease prevention, said according to the Post’s report.

The campaign is set to be funded by a grant from the Fund for Public Health, a public-private partnership that works with the New York City health department for “the advancement of the health and well-being of all New York City residents,” the Fund’s website explains.

The Fund for Public Health awarded the Hearing Loss Prevention Media Campaign grant in February.

“Hearing loss during adolescence not only increases the risk for more profound hearing problems later in life, but also has other negative impacts, such as low self-esteem, increased stress, and increased risk of injury,” the Fund explained on their website. “The project will develop a public education campaign to promote safe listening behaviors among teens and young adults.”

“Campaign messages will be developed using social marketing techniques, including focus groups and facilitated interviews with target population,” it added.

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