On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:19:01 -0400, "Josepi" wrote:

Ear plugs have reasonable leakage factored into them. The dB noise gain
figures are still added.

WRONG! Attenuation is only additive if the attenuators are completely in
series. In this case they are not.

The bone conduction you mention is real but not a factor in cochlear damage
as the frequency range conducted is not a problem and cartilage tends to not
conduct as well.

Sound is sound. Above a certain level it *will* damage the ear.

Any sounds conducted thourh your musculoskeletal system of that magnitude
would give you more than just cochlear damage. We are talking airborne noise
here and the medium density impedance change is not conducive to
transmitting noise this way. If you are talking jack-hammer vibration then
we have a concern. Being that is not the topic of this group the rest is
just nonsense.

The above is nothing more than word salad.