60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time is the headphone-use limit ZDNET highlights to reduce hearing damage risk.
85 dBA and above can harm hearing, the report says, because excessive sound damages cochlear hair cells that do not regenerate once destroyed.
Apple, Samsung and Google devices already offer hearing-health tools, including headphone audio tracking, loudness alerts and in some cases automatic volume reduction.
114 dBA at an NFL game and 104 dBA in a gym illustrate how quickly exposure can become risky; the report says 15 minutes at 114 dBA can damage hearing.
ANC can help lower how loud users set headphones in daily settings, but experts say it should not replace earplugs or earmuffs in workplaces or other very loud environments.
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