Noise Pollution: Urban Areas Suffer The Most

Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with potentially harmful effects on humans and animals. Sources of noise pollution include machines, transport, and propagation systems. Research suggests that noise pollution is highest in low-income and racial minority neighbourhoods in the United States, and that noise pollution associated with household electricity generators is an emerging environmental issue in many developing nations. In the EU, road transport is the most significant contributor to noise pollution, with at least one in five people exposed to long-term noise levels that are harmful to their health.

Transport and propagation systems

Noise pollution from transport systems can come from a variety of sources, including traffic, rail, and airplanes. Poor urban planning can also contribute to noise pollution, with side-by-side industrial and residential buildings resulting in noise pollution in residential areas. Other sources of noise in residential areas can include lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.

The effects of noise pollution from transport and propagation systems can be harmful to both physical and mental health. Health issues associated with long-term exposure to noise pollution include annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular and metabolic issues. It can also affect children's ability to learn.

To protect themselves from the harmful effects of noise pollution, individuals can take several steps. If people must be around loud sounds, they can use hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs. There are also strategies for combating noise in the home, school, workplace, and community.

Urban planning

Poor urban planning can lead to noise pollution, which can have a negative impact on humans and animals. For example, side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in residential areas. Some of the main sources of noise in residential areas include loud music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes), lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.

Research suggests that noise pollution in the United States is highest in low-income and racial minority neighbourhoods. This is also associated with household electricity generators, which are an emerging environmental degradation in many developing nations.

Noise pollution can be mitigated through urban planning strategies that separate industrial and residential areas, as well as through the implementation of noise barriers and other noise reduction measures. For example, in the EU, policies have been put in place to reduce exposure to harmful noise pollution, as at least one in five people in the EU are exposed to long-term noise levels that are harmful to their health. These health issues include annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular and metabolic issues.

Individuals can also take steps to protect themselves from noise pollution, such as using hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs when around loud sounds. Additionally, there are various strategies for combating noise in the home, school, workplace, and community.

Residential areas

Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with potentially harmful effects on humans and animals. Poor urban planning can result in noise pollution in residential areas, for example, when industrial and residential buildings are side-by-side.

Some of the main sources of noise in residential areas include loud music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.), lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.

The amount of noise allowed in a residential area depends on its source. For example, in Washington State, the maximum allowed amount of noise coming into a property in a commercial area is 57dBA from a residential area, 60dBA from another commercial area, and 65dBA from an industrial area. If you are in an industrial area, the maximum allowed amount of noise coming into the property is 60dBA from a residential area.

If you are experiencing noise pollution in your residential area, you can file a formal complaint by contacting your local government to find out which department is responsible for enforcing the noise ordinance or rules and the proper procedures for filing a complaint. If you live inside city limits, you can inquire with your city police department or city hall. If you live outside the city limits, you can inquire with the county sheriff's department or county commissioners' office. You can also check with your homeowners or neighbourhood association to see if there are any community rules that deal with noise or a formal process to help resolve issues with neighbours.

Environmental degradation

Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with potentially harmful effects on humans and animals. The main sources of noise pollution are machines, transport and propagation systems. Poor urban planning can also cause noise pollution, for example, when industrial and residential buildings are side-by-side. Some of the main sources of noise in residential areas include loud music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.), lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.

Research suggests that noise pollution in the United States is the highest in low-income and racial minority neighbourhoods. Noise pollution associated with household electricity generators is an emerging environmental degradation in many developing nations. Fong's comparative analysis of soundscape differences between Bangkok, Thailand, and Los Angeles, California, US, found that cities in the periphery have different soundscapes to inner-city areas. Fong's findings tie soundscape appreciation to subjective views of sound and demonstrate how different sounds of the soundscape are indicative of class differences in urban environments.

Road transport is the most significant contributor to environmental noise pollution in the EU. At least one in five people in the EU are exposed to long-term noise levels considered harmful to their health. Health issues related to these exposures include annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular and metabolic issues. It can also affect children’s ability to learn. In many cities, more than half of the population is exposed to road noise levels above the World Health Organisation guidelines for the day-evening-night period.

Individuals can take many steps to protect themselves from the harmful effects of noise pollution. If people must be around loud sounds, they can protect their ears with hearing protection (e.g., earplugs or earmuffs). There are various strategies for combating noise in your home, school, workplace, and the community.

Health issues

Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with potentially harmful effects on humans and animals. The main sources of outdoor noise worldwide are machines, transport and propagation systems. Poor urban planning can also cause noise pollution, for example, when industrial and residential buildings are side-by-side. Some of the main sources of noise in residential areas include loud music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.), lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.

Research suggests that noise pollution in the United States is highest in low-income and racial minority neighbourhoods. In addition, noise pollution associated with household electricity generators is an emerging environmental degradation in many developing nations. Fong's comparative analysis of soundscape differences between Bangkok, Thailand, and Los Angeles, California, US, found that cities in the periphery have different soundscapes than inner-city areas. Fong's findings tie soundscape appreciation to subjective views of sound and demonstrate how different sounds in the soundscape are indicative of class differences in urban environments.

Noise pollution can have a range of negative health effects. At least one in five people in the EU are exposed to long-term noise levels that are harmful to their health. Health issues related to these exposures include annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular and metabolic issues. It can also affect children's ability to learn. In many cities, more than half of the population is exposed to road noise levels above the World Health Organisation guidelines for the day-evening-night period.

To protect themselves from the harmful effects of noise pollution, individuals can take many steps. If people must be around loud sounds, they can protect their ears with hearing protection (e.g., earplugs or earmuffs). There are also various strategies for combating noise in your home, school, workplace, and the community.

Frequently asked questions