Popular films such as Lethal Weapon 4, Armageddon and Saving Private Ryan could have harmful affects on viewers' hearing, an investigation launched by the British Standards Institution (BSI) has revealed.

BSI, Britain's leading standards and quality services organisation, has found that recent advances in cinema sound technology have led to newly-released films reaching "potentially dangerous" decibel levels.

The findings could lead to the production of a British Standard, to regulate movies shown at cinemas in Britain as well as a set of guidelines being published for cinemagoers by 2,000.

Potentially dangerous

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BSI's chief executive Keith Tozzi said: "Movies such as Lethal Weapon 4, Armageddon and Saving Private Ryan are reaching potentially dangerous decibels levels.

Mr Tozzi said BSI's investigation had caused concern in the industry.

"The risk of hearing damage is cumulative and long-term and as sound distortion is minimised with the new cinema sound systems there is no obvious warning signs."