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Human
Noise pollution affects 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.
Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleeping,
conversation, or disrupts or diminishes ones 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.
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, (see also Marine mammals and 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 (Carcinus maenas), 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. 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. The National Institute for Occupational Health has created a database of
industrial equipment with decibel levels noted.
Examples of
noise levels
measured near
oil and gas sites
40-50
Disturbance
of sleep
patterns
( sleep
quality)
45 dBA annual
24 hour average
for no
interference
with indoor
activities
50-60
Disturbance
of sleep
patterns
( awakening
and mood
impacts)
West Virginia
(2013) one-hour
55 dBA annual
noise
24 hour average
measurements at
for no activity
several of 7 well
interference
pads exceeded 55
outdoors
dB annual 24 hour
average
60-70
Impacts on
school
performance
Noise Source
Decib
el
level
(dBA)
*
Impact
Breathing
10
Barely audible
20
About twice
as loud as 10
dBA
28-33
About 4 times
as loud as 10
dBA
Whisper;
Rustling leaves
Quiet room
Lowest limit of
urban ambient
sound; Typical
living room;
Forced hot air
heating system
Quiet suburb;
Clothes dryer;
Printer
Conversation in
a restaurant;
Window Fan on
High
Ischemic
24-hour average
lifetime
71-79 dBA drilling
heart disease,
exposure above noise at 200 feet
hypertension
which hearing
from well
loss may occur
Freight train at
50 feet;
Propeller plane
at 1000 feet;
Food blender
Power mower;
Boeing 737 at
6000 feet
Chain saw
80-90
Hearing
damage
possible if
exposed for 8
hours or more
90 dbA
permissible
noise exposure
limit for a
maximum of 8
hrs per day
(OSHA)
Hearing loss
90-100 at sustained
exposure
120
Pain
115 dBA
permissible
noise exposure
limit for a
maximum of 15
min per day
(OSHA)
If you don't want to reconstruct your walls and floors with sound-proof
building materials, consider the less expensive option of installing
carpeting and wall coverings that soften and absorb sounds.
Acoustic foam panels are a cheap, easy-to-install option when you want to
quickly soundproof a room. For an even easier solution, try hanging
blankets on the walls or installing extra bookcases filled with books.
2.
Keep noisy machines away from your bedroom and living areas. Situate your
home so that your bed isn't right next to your noisy furnace or air conditioning
unit. If there are any other sources of constant noise, try to locate them far away
from your sleeping and living areas so you can have some peace and quiet.
You might also want to consider using these machines less to give yourself a
break from the noise. Turn off your air conditioner and open the windows, even if
it means being a little hotter than normal. You might find the less noisy
atmosphere more relaxing than a cooled-down room.
3.
Spend time away from noise. Sometimes it's simply impossible to truly get away
from the noise. If you live on a busy street with lots of traffic, you know there's
never really a respite from traffic sounds, sirens and honking horns. Getting away
from it all is a good way to restore your emotional balance. Go to a quiet spot
that's as free of sound as possible. Stay there and enjoy the silence for a few
hours, until you feel renewed and ready to reenter the noise of daily life.
See if you can go for a walk in a quiet natural spot away from busy roads.
If you can't make it to a quiet outdoor space, try sitting in a library for a few
hours. The librarians will make sure it stays nice and quiet.
Mosques are also good places to find some peace and quiet.
4.
Learn to meditate. With more and more rural areas being developed, noisy
engines and construction sounds aren't going away any time soon. Learning how
to meditate can help you deal with noise and destress without needing to drop
everything and leave.
When you're feeling overwhelmed, sit very still, close your eyes and focus
on taking deep, even breaths. Do 10 breaths and try to let your worries go
and ignore the noise around you. No matter where you are, whether it's on
a noisy subway car or in your own kitchen, you can try this technique to
calm yourself down.
5.
Use earplugs and noise-canceling headphones. These inventions help millions of
people deal with everyday noise. Earplugs are a cheap drugstore purchase that
buys you hours of sleep, once you get used to falling asleep with them in your
ears. Noise-canceling headphones are a bit more expensive, but if getting peace
and quiet is at the top of your priority list, they're probably worth the splurge.
When you're choosing a place to live, see if the residence is in a flight path
or near a busy highway. During the day the sounds might not bother you,
but at night they might prevent you from sleeping.
2.
Check into the noise pollution laws in your area. Most urban communities have
rules to prevent noise pollution from getting out of control. For example, there
are laws dictating during which hours a construction site may actively use
machinery, and when they need to stay quiet. As a community member, you can
help enforce the laws if you know what they are.
3.
Make sure community spaces are following the rules. Another source of noise
comes from community spaces like stadiums, concert venues and other outdoor
areas with speaker systems. Even a neighborhood bar that holds concerts can
produce enough noise to drive you crazy. If you live near a community space that
seems to be making noise all night long, or is producing noise that seems louder
than necessary, see if they're in violation of local laws and file a complaint if
necessary.
For example, if a new concert space opens up on your block and creates
noise late into the night, you're entitled to finding out whether the place is
operating according to local law. The people in charge of the space might
not be aware of the laws, so don't just assume they know what they're
doing. Find out more and see if you can make a difference.
4.
Speak up about banning noisy motors near your home. Car and motorcycle
engines as well as lawnmowers and other motor-powered vehicles can really
raise the noise level in any given area. If you live in the middle of the city, there
won't be much you can do about it, but in a smaller community you may be able
to have a say as to who gets to use motors in your area, and when.
Talk with your city council member to see what you can do to have noisy
motors banned after a certain time at night.
In smaller communities, you could also just get together with your
neighbors and agree not to use lawnmowers and other noisy motors
during certain hours, for the benefit of the whole neighborhood.
5.
Get involved in a community tree-planting project.[6] Communities with more
trees are quieter than those without them, since large, leafy trees can help
absorb noise. If you live in an area with a dearth of big trees, planting more along
city streets, and between residences and noisy highways, would be a good way
to cut back on some of the noise pollution in your area.
Don't use your car horn unnecessarily. Don't be part of the problem by leaning on
your horn every time someone looks at you wrong on the street. Use your horn
only when absolutely necessary, as a way to let someone know that you're
present or warn them when they're about to collide with something. It's good
driving etiquette, and makes life more pleasant for city-dwellers.
2.
Keep your car in good repair. The sound of a car without a muffler chugging down
the street is never welcome, so make sure you're not the one causing noise
pollution in your neighborhood and spring to get your car fixed. Keeping your car
in good, quiet working order will be appreciated by everyone who lives near you.
The same goes for your lawnmower and any other noisy equipment you
might use outdoors.
3.
Keep your music down. It might sound beautiful to you, but respect the fact that
others might not feel the same way. Your music shouldn't be noticeable outside
your own home. If you know that the neighbors don't mind, feel free to keep your
windows open and let them enjoy your musical taste, but don't just assume that
everyone wants to hear your favorite opera as much as you do.
4.
Respect quiet hours at night. Whether the rule is unspoken or prominently
published, make sure you don't make noise after hours. Don't put your neighbors
in the position of having to ask you to be quiet, since it's awkward and makes for
unfriendly relations. Do your best to be a good neighbor so you can expect the
same from those around you.
This is especially important if you live in an apartment building. Don't vacuum or
do housework late at night, since they'll be able to hear you walking around.
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Source: http://parisaramahiti.kar.nic.in/PDF/publications/Noisepolution.pdf
http://www.nonoise.org/library/smj/smj.htm
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-noise-pollution.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise_pollution
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/tsrebotnjak/i_cant_hear_you_noise_pollut
io.html
6. http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Noise-Pollution