Noise Pollution

We explain what noise pollution is, what its causes and consequences are. Also, how to avoid or reduce it.

What is noise pollution?

It is called noise pollution, noise pollution or hearing pollution. the constant or simultaneous presence of annoying noises or deafening in an environment.

Certain noise levels are inevitable, especially in the contemporary world, where industrial activities and means of transportation abound and millions of people coexist in urban spaces.

However, when these noises reach considerable magnitudes or are so many that they exceed what the human ear can tolerate, they cause a form of physical, emotional and psychological damage, and that is why they are considered a form of pollution.

The WHO considers that 70 decibels (dB) are the limit of noise tolerable by humans and that the ideal for rest and communication is only 55 dB. However, it is estimated that around 80 million people in the world are exposed daily to environmental noise that exceeds 65 dB, according to studies by the European Union in 2005.

See also: Visual pollution

Causes of noise pollution

Many human activities are associated with the generation of high levels of noise, such as:

• Industrial operations with large machinery, such as factories, raw material extraction or manufacturing facilities.
• Construction, demolitions, explosions and urban renovations that use high noise impact tools, such as drills and hydropneumatic hammers.
• Automotive transport vehicles, especially in traffic jam and concentration situations.
• Airports, trains, ports, bus stations and other urban facilities.
• Musical concerts, sports shows and other massive events.
• The simultaneous presence of a large number of people in a closed environment.

In general, individuals who live in large cities are exposed daily to harmful levels of noise, which is often detrimental to their hearing health.

Consequences of noise pollution

Although sound does not accumulate or linger like other pollutants do, the continued presence of noise has a direct and immediate negative impact on the life around it.

Some of its possible consequences are:

• Socioacusis. It is a slight damage to a person's auditory system, the most common symptom of which is the appearance of a constant ringing. This effect usually passes over time, but it is considered a warning from the body regarding possible future complications, such as decreased hearing ability and eventually deafness.
• Communicative interference. The higher the levels of noise pollution in an environment, the more difficult oral communication between people will be, since the ears are unable to discern the sounds of interest from the rest of those that make up the background noise.
• Physiological effects. Beyond the hearing damage that it may cause, exposure to continuous sources of noise pollution causes harmful effects on the body, such as involuntary dilation of the pupils, accelerated pulse, increased blood pressure, headaches, increased muscle tension and other symptoms associated with stress that can later trigger health problems in living beings.
• Psychological effects. Noise is a disturbing element of mental and emotional health, capable of causing insomnia, fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability and lack of concentration, as well as reducing linguistic learning and verbal communication in children.
• Ecological effects. Noise is not only harmful to humans, but also to animals and even plants. All forms of life are affected by excess sound waves resulting from noise pollution, and the presence of noise scares away animals, alters the behavioral patterns of species and impoverishes natural biodiversity.

How to avoid noise pollution?

Despite the presence of large industrial developments in various regions of the world and the explosion of urban life in recent centuries, noise was not considered an environmental pollutant until very recently.

Since the beginning of the millennium, numerous organizations and States have agreed to discuss noise legislation, which has led to the local emergence of regulations and legal codes to protect people and animal species from the effects of noise. constant noise.

However, most anti-noise measures remain individual. In high noise environments, the companies They must provide their employees with hearing protection equipment and they must use insulating materials to prevent sound waves from spreading outside the room. Additionally, industrial operations must be kept away from residential areas.

Likewise, the use of earplugs and noise barriers in homes is a growing practice in various regions of the world, as a mechanism to prevent the cumulative effects of noise exposure.

Examples of noise pollution

Some examples of noise or hearing pollution are:

• The constant takeoff and landing of planes at airports.
• Urban traffic of combustion vehicles such as buses, motorcycles and trains.
• Holding concerts, parades and other massive outdoor events, especially if they have speakers at excessive volume.
• Industrial operations with bulky machinery or mechanical tools.
• Demolition, construction and renovation work in the city.
• The operation of wind installations in the fields, whose blades usually produce annoying and continuous noises.
• The alarms of vehicles, stores and other urban facilities, when they go off continuously.

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References

• Aldea, S and Font, D. (2021). “Noise pollution: invisible pollution.” Educate. https://www.educ.ar/
• Spanish Association for Quality. (2019). “Noise pollution”. https://www.aec.es/
• European Environment Agency. (2020). “Noise pollution is a major problem, both for human health and the environment.” https://www.eea.europa.eu/
• Organization for Sustainable Development. (2022). “Sound Pollution: Do you know what it is about?” https://ods.com.ar/