Noise pollution

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[3][4] 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 (e.g. trains) or inside (e.g. music) noise.

Traffic is the main source of noise pollution in

cities.

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.

Contents
1 Health
1.1 Human
1.2 Wildlife
2 Noise mitigation
3 Legal status
4 Internationally
4.1 Impact in the United Kingdom
4.2 India
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

Health

A Boeing 747-400 passes close to houses shortly

before landing at London Heathrow Airport aircraft noise can significantly impact human
health.[1][2]

Human
Noise pollution effects both health and behavior. Unwanted sound
(noise) can damage psychological health. Noise pollution can cause
hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep
disturbances, and other harmful effects.[5][6][7][8]
Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal
activities such as sleeping, conversation, or disrupts or diminishes
ones quality of life.[9]
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.[10] 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.[5]
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,[5] and vasoconstriction leading to the increased blood pressure
noted above, as well as to increased incidence of coronary artery
disease.

A sound level meter, a basic

tool in measuring sound.

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.[11]

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 may have
caused the death of certain species of whales that beached themselves after being exposed to the loud
sound of military sonar,[12] (see also Marine mammals and sonar).
Noise also makes species communicate more loudly, which is called Lombard vocal response.[13]
Scientists and researchers have conducted experiments that show whales' song length is longer when
submarine-detectors are on.[14] 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 netbubbling. 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 (Carcinus maenas), have also been shown to be impacted by ship
noise.[15][16] Larger crabs were noted to be impacted more by the sounds than smaller crabs. Repeated
exposure to the sounds did lead to acclimatization.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18]
In a first of its kind preliminary study on the Health effects from noise as it relates to weight gain and
blood cortisol levels in farm animals, in this study, two groups of growing geese, the first "remain[ing]
within" 50 meters from a wind turbine and the second 500 meters; after 12 weeks of growth the research
group found that the closer, first group, had "significant differences" when compared with its more
distant pairing and "gained less weight and had a higher concentration of cortisol in blood," compared to
individuals from the more distant group, with the results of the study suggesting "a negative effect of the
immediate vicinity of a wind turbine on the stress parameters of geese and their productivity."[19]

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.

The sound tube in Melbourne, Australia is

designed to reduce roadway noise without
distracting from the area's aesthetics

Industrial noise has been addressed since the 1930s via

redesign of industrial equipment, shock mounted assemblies and physical barriers in the workplace. In
recent years, Buy Quiet programs and initiatives have arisen in an effort to combat occupational noise
exposures. These programs promote the purchase of quieter tools and equipment and encourage
manufacturers to design quieter equipment.[20]

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
A man wears ear muffs for protection
investigate and study noise and its effect, disseminate
against noise pollution, 1973.
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.[21]
Portland, Oregon instituted the first comprehensive noise code in 1975 with funding from the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) and HUD (Housing and Urban Development). 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.[22]
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 (FOI) 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 (Scotland) 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.[23]

India
Noise pollution is a major problem in India. The government of India has regulations against
firecrackers and loudspeakers, but enforcement is extremely lax.[24] 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.[25]

References
1. ^ Tdlicher Lrm - Spiegel, Nr. 51, 14 Dezember 2009, Page 45 (German)

2. ^ Molesworth BR, Burgess M, Gunnell B. (2013). Using the effect of alcohol as a comparison to illustrate
the detrimental effects of noise on performance. Noise & Health, 15, 367-373.
3. ^ Senate Public Works Committee, Noise Pollution and Abatement Act of 1972, S. Rep. No. 1160, 92nd
Cong. 2nd session
4. ^ C. Michael Hogan and Gary L. Latshaw, "The relationship between highway planning and urban noise"
(http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/top3mset/2930880), Proceedings of the ASCE, Urban
Transportation, May 2123, 1973, Chicago, Illinois. By American Society of Civil Engineers. Urban
Transportation Division
5. ^ a b c S. Rosen and P. Olin, Hearing Loss and Coronary Heart Disease, Archives of Otolaryngology, 82:236
(1965)
6. ^ J.M. Field, Effect of personal and situational variables upon noise annoyance in residential areas, Journal
of the Acoustical Society of America, 93: 2753-2763 (1993)
7. ^ "Noise Pollution" (http://www.euro.who.int/Noise). World Health Organisation.
8. ^ "Road noise link to blood pressure" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8247217.stm). BBC News. 2009-0910. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
9. ^ Jefferson, Catrice. "Noise Pollution" (http://www.epa.gov/air/noise.html). U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
10. ^ Rosenhall U, Pedersen K, Svanborg A (1990). "Presbycusis and noise-induced hearing loss". Ear Hear 11
(4): 25763. doi:10.1097/00003446-199008000-00002 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2F00003446-19900800000002). PMID 2210099 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2210099).
11. ^ Jess Barreiro, Mercedes Snchez, Montserrat Viladrich-Grau (2005), "How much are people willing to
pay for silence? A contingent valuation study", Applied Economics, 37 (11)
12. ^ Bahamas Marine Mammal Stranding Event of 1516 March 2000
(http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/acoustics/bahamas_stranding.pdf)
13. ^ http://www.dosits.org/glossary/pop/lvr.htm
14. ^ Variation in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song length in relation to low-frequency sound
broadcasts (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003ASAJ..113.3411F)
15. ^ McClain, Craig. "Loud Noise Makes Crabs Even More Crabby" (http://deepseanews.com/2013/04/loadnoise-makes-crabs-edgy/). Deep Sea News. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
16. ^ a b Wale, M. A.; Simpson, S. D.; Radford, A. N. (2013). "Size-dependent physiological responses of shore
crabs to single and repeated playback of ship noise". Biology Letters 9 (2): 2012119420121194.
doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.1194 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1098%2Frsbl.2012.1194). ISSN 1744-9561
(https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1744-9561).
17. ^ Fuller RA, Warren PH, Gaston KJ (2007). "Daytime noise predicts nocturnal singing in urban robins"
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2390663). Biology Letters 3 (4): 36870.
doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0134 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1098%2Frsbl.2007.0134). PMC 2390663
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2390663). PMID 17456449
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17456449).
18. ^ Milius, S. (2007). High Volume, Low Fidelity: Birds are less faithful as sounds blare, Science News vol.
172, p. 116. (references (http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070825/fob3ref.asp))
19. ^ "Preliminary studies on the reaction of growing geese (Anser anser f. domestica) to the proximity of wind
turbines" (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24597302).
20. ^ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/buyquiet/default.html
21. ^ EPA. "Noise pollution" (http://www.epa.gov/air/noise.html). Environmental protection agency. Retrieved

2013-10-28.
22. ^ City of Portland, Oregon. Auditor's Office. Chapter 18.02 Title Noise Control
(http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28705). Retrieved on April 20, 2009.
23. ^ "London is home to the noisiest neighbours" (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23714071details/London+is+home+to+the+noisiest+neighbours/article.do). London Evening Standard.
24. ^ Govt of India: Central Pollution Control Board FAQs (http://cpcb.nic.in/faq1.php)
25. ^ Rising festival noise undoing past efforts' (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Risingfestival-noise-undoing-past-efforts/Article1-939539.aspx)

See also
Acoustical engineering
Environmental noise
Industrial noise
Aircraft noise
Road noise
Buy Quiet

External links
ASBHelp.co.uk - Report Noise Pollution in the UK
(http://asbhelp.co.uk/)
Noise pollution

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Noise
pollution.

(http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Environment/Noise_Pollution/) at DMOZ
World Health Organization - Guidelines for Community Noise
(http://www.who.int/docstore/peh/noise/Comnoise-1.pdf)
The effects of noisy urban environment may cause the loss of memory to elderly person (abstract
published in 1st World Congress of Health and Urban Environment book.)
(http://www.bioneurologics.gr/astheneies/neurology-psychiatry/the-effects-of-noisy-urbanenvironment-may-cause-the-loss-of-memory-to-elderly-person/)
Clive Thompson on How Man-Made Noise May Be Altering Earths Ecology
(http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-06/st_thompson) {[ [sic]]}
EEA draws the first map of Europe's noise exposure - All press releases EEA
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/eea-draws-the-first-map-of-europe2019snoise-exposure)
Contact details for all local council Environmental Health departments in England and Wales
(http://noise-pollution.info/contact-your-local-council/)
Awaaz Foundation India website
(http://www.awaaz.org/Awaaz_Foundation/Welcome_to_Awaaz_Foundation/Welcome_to_Awaa
z_Foundation.html)

Scientific American: How does background noise affect our concentration?

(http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ask-the-brains-background-noise) (2010-0104)
who.int: Children's Health and the Environment, WHO Training Package for the Health Sector
(http://www.who.int/ceh/capacity/noise.pdf) (2010-03-08)
NIOSH Buy Quiet Topic Page (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/buyquiet/default.html/)
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