A new research has shown that portable MP3 players can lead to temporary hearing loss if used for more than an hour.

Hannah Kempler, of Ghent University, Belgium said, "It is well known that excessive occupational noise exposure can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Excessive noise exposure can lead to metabolic and/or mechanical effects resulting in alterations of the structural elements of the organ of Corti [the inner ear organ in mammals that contains auditory sensory cells or ''hair cells'']."

"The primary damage is concentrated on the outer hair cells, which are more vulnerable to acoustic over stimulation that inner hair cells," Kempler added.

The study partakers had gone through hearing tests and were then asked to listen to pop or rock music for six one hour long sessions utilizing two different types of headphones and at varying, preset volumes.

The control group of 14 participants of the same ages was used to compare the results.

The results of the research published in the June issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. (With Inputs from Agencies)