96 dB: the sound of the summer

My lawn mower claims to be 96dB. I used a digital meter to test that claim. Sat right on top of the grass box, it was claiming >100dB. But intensity diminishes with distance and it turns out that the claim is correct where my head is. I have read that 120dB is the threshold of pain. This is nowhere near. A source suggested you might be all right for 4 hours at this volume. It wouldn't be a pleasant 4 hours though because it's not a nice noise.