subject: Why Noise Pollution is More of A Problem Than Most May Think [print this page] Why Noise Pollution is More of A Problem Than Most May Think
Most of us just look when we hear noise pollution as most of us have been desensitized to it. The problem is that it is not healthy and can does more harm than good. While it is commonplace in our society, that does not mean that it should be accepted as normal activities and we should improve our efforts to reduce it.
The definition of noise pollution is simple, in that it is excessive, machine created environmental noise, or man made noise, or some animal noises which disrupts the normal activities or balance of human or animal life. Outdoor pollution is more common, and is created by construction equipment, transportation vehicles such as buses, planes, trains, trucks, and automobiles. Other conventional forms of indoor and outdoor noise pollution can include, but is not limited to auto alarms, fire and police sirens, mechanical equipment, fireworks, air horn, lawnmowers and other grounds keeping equipment, pets such as dogs, megaphones, stereos and boom boxes, appliances, and loud obnoxious people. Past urban dwellings and residential planning did not take into consideration when they designed such developments.
Noise has been viewed as a nuisance for the most part up till the 1970's by governments instead of being deemed an environmental problem. Since then federal standards have been implemented of highway and aircraft noise, in conjunction with state and local governments which have created specific statutes on building codes, urban planning and road developments. Some localities however do not have such standards or statutes. So for the most part, noise is just one of those 'deal with it' types of problems for the most part, which should not be the case as we will soon elaborate on. Most ordinances for localities are fairly flexible, depending on the officers involved I would imagine, and in most cases, I assume that noise complaints are at the bottom of the list for enforcement by authorities. Most localities have a somewhat standard ordinance which prohibits noise above certain decibels overnight, like 9 or 10 PM to 6 or 7 AM. Some have restrictions on cutting grass before or after certain hours, but from my experience, they are never enforced.
One exception to the deal with it type of attitude concerning noise is Portland, Oregon, which in 1975 had the first set of comprehensive noise codes written by Dr. Paul Herman through funding from the EPA and HUD. Portland goes one step further though and do enforce these laws, with an aggressive approach to noise violators, with fines that could be as high as $5,000 dollars per infraction, and it also gives enforcement agencies the ability to cite violators multiple times a day. Most conflicts surrounding noise are usually handled between the person making the noise and the person it is affecting, and further steps include calling the police and filing a formal complaint. However, only 5 to 10 percent of people that are negatively affected by noise pollution ever file a formal complaint, as most people aren't aware of their legal rights regarding peace and quiet and don't understand the process of filing a complaint.
As we mentioned earlier, noise pollution is more than just a nuisance, it can also affect our health, and that of animals as well. Noise can cause damage to our physiological and psychological health. It can also lead to aggression, hypertension, higher levels of stress, hearing loss, tinnitus, and of course disrupt our sleep. The stress and hypertension are leading causes to other, more serious health conditions, and with tinnitus, it can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and even cause panic attacks.
Excessive exposure to noise can even lead to hearing loss, as demonstrated by older males whom have been subject to significant occupational noise that demonstrated a significant reduction in hearing sensitivity compared to similarly aged males whom don't experience occupational noise. High levels of noise may also contribute to cardiovascular effects and extended exposure of eight hours to moderately high levels of noise causes a statistical rise in blood pressure of 5 to 10 points and also leads to an increase in stress levels and vasoconstriction which ultimately raises blood pressure and can lead to an increased risk of coronary artery disease.
Mother nature and our furry little friends are also impacted by the effects of noise. The increase in noise can lead to the risk of premature death in animals by changing the delicate balance in their predator or prey detection and avoidance instincts. It also can interfere with their use of communications, particularly in areas of reproduction and navigational communications, and can lead to a temporary, or even permanent loss of hearing. This in turn also makes species communicate louder which is referred to as the Lombard vocal response. Another negative impact of excessive noise on wildlife is that it reduces the size of their original habitats, and can also be part of the path to extinction. Records show that noise pollution from military sonar has caused the death of various species of whales that had beached themselves after exposure to the sonar.
Currently there are technologies that can counter or reduce noise such as noise barriers, road surface textures, restricting heavy vehicles, traffic controls, and tire design. There is also insulation and windows that reduce outside noise. The onus appears to be on us though, as as we previously mentioned. most local authorities do little if anything to enforce and noise ordinances, so if we want our domiciles and environment to be quieter, then we need to speak louder I assume. Silence is golden, or at least it should be! Click here for more on the topic of noise pollution.
