At what decibel is hearing damaged?

Excuse me, I've been hearing a lot about the dangers of loud noise and hearing damage lately. Can you tell me, at what specific decibel level does hearing begin to suffer damage? I'm curious to know the exact threshold that experts have identified as potentially harmful to our auditory system. Is it a gradual process, or is there a sudden point where damage becomes evident? Understanding this information would help me better protect my hearing and that of my loved ones.