Noise pollution is the disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance
of human or animal life.
The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines and transportation
systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains.
Outdoor noise is summarized by the word environmental noise.
Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-side industrial and
residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential areas.
Indoor noise can be caused by machines, building activities, and music performances, especially
in some workplaces.
There is no great difference whether noise-induced hearing loss is brought about by outside or
inside noise.
High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans, a rise in blood pressure,
and an increase in stress and vasoconstriction, and an increased incidence of coronary artery
disease.
In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey detection
and avoidance, interfere with reproduction and navigation, and contribute to permanent
hearing loss.
Health Human
Noise pollution affects both health and behavior.
Unwanted sound can damage psychological health.
Noise pollution can cause trouble, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss,
sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects.
Furthermore, stress and hypertension are the leading causes to health problems.
Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleeping, conversation,
or disrupts or diminishes one’s quality of life.
Chronic exposure to noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss.
Older males exposed to significant occupational noise demonstrate more significantly reduced
hearing sensitivity than their non-exposed peers, though differences in hearing sensitivity
decrease with time and the two groups are indistinguishable by age 79.
A comparison of Maaban tribesmen, who were insignificantly exposed to transportation
or industrial noise, to a typical U.S. population showed that chronic exposure to moderately
high levels of environmental noise contributes to hearing loss.
High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects and exposure to moderately high levels
during a single eight-hour period causes a statistical rise in blood pressure of five
to ten points and an increase in stress, and vasoconstriction leading to the increased
blood pressure noted above, as well as to increased incidence of coronary artery disease.
Noise pollution also is a cause of annoyance.
A 2005 study by Spanish researchers found that in urban areas households are willing
to pay approximately four Euros per decibel per year for noise reduction.
Wildlife Noise can have a detrimental effect on wild
animals, increasing the risk of death by changing the delicate balance in predator or prey detection
and avoidance, and interfering the use of the sounds in communication, especially in
relation to reproduction and in navigation.
Acoustic overexposure can lead to temporary or permanent loss of hearing.
An impact of noise on wild animal life is the reduction of usable habitat that noisy
areas may cause, which in the case of endangered species may be part of the path to extinction.
Noise pollution has caused the death of certain species of whales that beached themselves
after being exposed to the loud sound of military sonar,.
Noise also makes species communicate more loudly, which is called Lombard vocal response.
Scientists and researchers have conducted experiments that show whales' song length
is longer when submarine-detectors are on.
If creatures do not "speak" loudly enough, their voice will be masked by anthropogenic
sounds.
These unheard voices might be warnings, finding of prey, or preparations of net-bubbling.
When one species begins speaking more loudly, it will mask other species' voice, causing
the whole ecosystem eventually to speak more loudly.
Marine invertebrates, such as crabs, have also been shown to be impacted by ship noise.
Larger crabs were noted to be impacted more by the sounds than smaller crabs.
Repeated exposure to the sounds did lead to acclimatization.
European Robins living in urban environments are more likely to sing at night in places
with high levels of noise pollution during the day, suggesting that they sing at night
because it is quieter, and their message can propagate through the environment more clearly.
The same study showed that daytime noise was a stronger predictor of nocturnal singing
than night-time light pollution, to which the phenomenon often is attributed.
Zebra finches become less faithful to their partners when exposed to traffic noise.
This could alter a population's evolutionary trajectory by selecting traits, sapping resources
normally devoted to other activities and thus leading to profound genetic and evolutionary
consequences.
Noise mitigation
Roadway noise can be reduced by the use of noise barriers, limitation of vehicle speeds,
alteration of roadway surface texture, limitation of heavy vehicles, use of traffic controls
that smooth vehicle flow to reduce braking and acceleration, and tire design.
An important factor in applying these strategies is a computer model for roadway noise, that
is capable of addressing local topography, meteorology, traffic operations, and hypothetical
mitigation.
Costs of building-in mitigation can be modest, provided these solutions are sought in the
planning stage of a roadway project.
Aircraft noise can be reduced by using quieter jet engines.
Altering flight paths and time of day runway has benefitted residents near airports.
Industrial noise has been addressed since the 1930s via redesign of industrial equipment,
shock mounted assemblies and physical barriers in the workplace.
Legal status
Up until the 1970s governments viewed noise as a "nuisance" rather than an environmental
problem.
In the United States, there are federal standards for highway and aircraft noise; states and
local governments typically have very specific statutes on building codes, urban planning,
and roadway development.
Noise laws and ordinances vary widely among municipalities and indeed do not even exist
in some cities.
An ordinance may contain a general prohibition against making noise that is a nuisance, or
it may set out specific guidelines for the level of noise allowable at certain times
of the day and for certain activities.
The Environmental Protection Agency retains authority to investigate and study noise and
its effect, disseminate information to the public regarding noise pollution and its adverse
health effects, respond to inquiries on matters related to noise, and evaluate the effectiveness
of existing regulations for protecting the public health and welfare, pursuant to the
Noise Control Act of 1972 and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978.
Portland, Oregon instituted the first comprehensive noise code in 1975 with funding from the EPA
and HUD.
The Portland Noise Code includes potential fines of up to $5000 per infraction and is
the basis for other major U.S. and Canadian city noise ordinances.
Many conflicts over noise pollution are handled by negotiation between the emitter and the
receiver.
Escalation procedures vary by country, and may include action in conjunction with local
authorities, in particular the police.
Internationally Impact in the United Kingdom
Figures compiled by Rockwool, the mineral wool insulation manufacturer, based on responses
from local authorities to a Freedom of Information Act request reveal in the period April 2008
– 2009 UK councils received 315,838 complaints about noise pollution from private residences.
This resulted in environmental health officers across the UK serving 8,069 noise abatement
notices, or citations under the terms of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.
In the last 12 months, 524 confiscations of equipment have been authorized involving the
removal of powerful speakers, stereos and televisions.
Westminster City Council has received more complaints per head of population than any
other district in the UK with 9,814 grievances about noise, which equates to 42.32 complaints
per thousand residents.
Eight of the top 10 councils ranked by complaints per 1,000 residents are located in London.
India Noise pollution is a major problem in India.
The government of India has regulations against firecrackers and loudspeakers, but enforcement
is extremely lax.
Awaaz Foundation is an Indian NGO working to control noise pollution from various sources
in Mumbai through advocacy, public interest litigation, awareness, and educational campaigns
since 2003.
References
See also Acoustical engineering
Environmental noise Industrial noise
Aircraft noise Road noise
External links Noise pollution at DMOZ
World Health Organization - Guidelines for Community Noise
The effects of noisy urban environment may cause the loss of memory to elderly person
Clive Thompson on How Man-Made Noise May Be Altering Earths Ecology {[ [sic]]}
EEA draws the first map of Europe's noise exposure - All press releases — EEA
Contact details for all local council Environmental Health departments in England and Wales
Awaaz Foundation India website Scientific American: How does background noise
affect our concentration?
who.int: Children's Health and the Environment, WHO Training Package for the Health Sector