Too much noise can be harmful to us and other living beings. Such unhealthy noise levels are known as ‘noise pollution’ and they have many causes. While there are some forms of noise pollution that we can do nothing about such as air traffic, there are other sources that we can be responsible for reducing. The following guide delves more into what noise pollution is and its causes.
Why is noise pollution bad?
Noise pollution has many negative effects. Some of the negative effects of too much noise include:
Damage to physical health
Prolonged exposure to noises above 85 decibels can cause premature hearing loss and tinnitus. Heavy traffic, construction sites and rock concerts all typically exceed this noise level. Too much noise in our lives can also cause heightened stress levels, which can make us more high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues. Finally, noise pollution at night can affect our sleep quality – which in turn can cause all types of damage to the body.
Damage to mental health
Because exposure to loud noises causes stress and sleep disturbance, noise pollution can also cause us to become more prone to anxiety or depression. At the very least, it can make us more irritable and fatigued. Hearing loss has meanwhile been linked to a greater risk of many mental health problems including anxiety, depression and even dementia.
Damage to the environment
Noise pollution doesn’t just affect human beings, but also the wildlife in the area. Many animals use sound to communicate and rely on their sense of hearing to detect predators/prey. High noise levels can end up disrupting animal behavior, increase accidental deaths and reduce fertility. It may even cause entire wildlife populations to migrate from an area. This can also affect the pollination of plants.
What causes noise pollution?
Noise pollution has many different sources. Some of the most common causes of noise pollution include:
- Road traffic: Cars, vans and lorries are some of the biggest causes of noise pollution. This is particularly the case with high speed roads like highways.
- Air traffic: A jet engine is one of the loudest man-made noises on earth. Many people living near an airport experience health issues, while local wildlife is often severely reduced.
- Construction: The average noise level on a construction site is 80 to 90 decibels, which is enough to cause hearing damage. Equipment like rattle guns can even exceed 130 decibels!
- Loud music: Many live music concerts are very loud – often between 90 and 120 decibels. Nightclubs, bars and inconsiderate neighbors may also contribute to noise pollution by playing loud music.
- Human voices: A crowd of human voices can be very loud. Sports stadiums are one of the loudest examples. Crowded streets, bars and restaurants can also exceed the 85 decibel mark in some cases.
- Pets: Barking dogs are one of the most common sources of noise complaints and therefore can be a source of noise pollution.
- Power tools: Many power tools used for commercial or personal use are very loud. Beyond construction power tools, this includes tools like lawnmowers and chainsaws and pneumatic wrenches.
- Home appliances: Some home appliances like washing machines, hairdryers and vacuum cleaners can be very noisy and can contribute to unhealthy noise levels inside your home.
- Fireworks: Fireworks are known to scare away animals and are a common source of noise complaints.
- Sonar: Ship equipment like sonar has been proven to disrupt whale communication, while also affecting the behavior of other marine wildlife. The likes of this maritime news site explains more.
How can we reduce noise pollution?
Reducing noise pollution is something we can all do collectively. While there may not be anything you can do personally to stop planes flying overhead or ships using sonar, there are sources of noise that you may be responsible for in your everyday life. Below are a few examples of ways you may be able to reduce noise.
Sound insulation
Buildings can be insulated to keep loud outside noises from getting in, as well as keeping loud inside noises from getting out. There may even be ways to reduce echo in a building. A few examples of sound insulation to consider include:
- Acoustic panels on walls and ceiling to absorb sounds.
- Soundproof glass to reduce noise through windows, or solutions like thick curtains and shutters.
- Thick doors to reduce sound transmission.
- Rubber flooring underlay under hard floor option to muffle sounds.
- Noise barriers around the perimeter of a property (useful for reducing noise from highways).
- Planting trees to create a natural sound barrier around a property.
Sound insulation is something that urban planners are more commonly considering. Low-noise road surfaces, highway noise barriers and insulated houses are becoming more common and can greatly reduce the spread of noise pollution.
Quiet appliances/tools
It may be possible to limit noise levels in your home by choosing quieter appliances and home tools. Appliances and tools that are able to reach a certain level of quietness are awarded with Quiet Mark certification.
Businesses can also have an impact by choosing quieter commercial machinery.
Electric cars
Electric cars aren’t just more environmentally-friendly as a result of zero emissions; they also produce much less noise and are therefore less disturbing to wildlife and neighbors.
Electric planes may eventually help to reduce air pollution, however this technology is still in development.
Cut-off periods
Reducing noise after certain hours is essential for helping people to sleep and keeping peace. This includes not using power tools or listening to loud music after a certain time.
Many businesses are required by law to abide by noise curfews. For example, construction sites cannot start work before a certain time in the morning, while music venues in some areas may not be able to play music past midnight.
Noise complaints
Making noise complaints can help to limit noise in your area. From complaining about noisy neighbors to complaining about noise from local businesses, you can help to keep the noise down if you think it’s antisocial or harmful to the environment.
