Controlling the Negative Effects of Noise Pollution The effect that loud noise has on hearing is analogous to the

effect of environmental toxins on health (Ising & Kruppa, 2 !"# Therefore, $ust as the cit% has a program designed to

limit human exposure to toxic chemicals in &ater, a comprehensive noise control program must 'e promulgated '% the ma%or and the cit% council to safeguard the health of all persons# The levels of noise pollution found in an ur'an setting &ill inevita'l% cause ph%siological and ps%chological harm to those affected# (o&, then, should an effective noise control program 'e implemented)

Speech Interference and Annoyance *ne critical facet of noise pollution is interference &ith speech# +ost individuals find interference &ith speech extremel% anno%ing , so much so that the% experience ph%siological and ps%chological changes# -eci'el levels and distance from the noise source are the primar% noise characteristics that dictate speech interference (.oothro%d, 2 2"# These characteristics

determine the perceived loudness and, therefore, the impact of noise in most situations#

Physiological and Psychological Response to Noise Noise exposure elicits a s%stemic response in humans, resulting in increased 'lood pressure, vasoconstriction and heart rate# The 'od%/s electrol%te and hormonal levels ma% also 'e affected# 0ccording to the 1orld (ealth *rgani2ation (3444", long term exposure to noise ma% even effect the gastrointestinal s%stem# 0lthough studies that examine the relationship 'et&een noise and ph%siological response in humans occasionall% offer conflicting information, there is sufficient empirical data to conclude that excessive noise is ph%sicall% damaging#

The effect of noise on human ph%siolog% is directl% related to its effect on human ps%cholog%# Ising and Kruppa (2 !" found that chronic exposure to excessive noise results in

increased adrenaline, non5adrenaline stress hormones and cortisol , hormones that affect human 'ehavior, mood and stress levels# Therefore, noise exposure can potentiall% damage mental health#

The Health Effects of Noise Ph%siological and ps%chological responses to noise have long5lasting conse6uences on health# This is especiall% nota'le in ur'an environments, &here noise sources are highl% prevalent# The noise generated '% traffic, airports and da%5to5da% activities affect pu'lic health to a greater degree in areas &here the concentration of citi2ens is highest, compounding the impact of noise prevalence# Ph%sicall%, cardiovascular health is the primar% concern# 7tudies have sho&n that noise exposure ma% increase the ris8 of heart disease (.a'isch, Ising & 9allacher, 2 :"# In effect, a

noise control program can reduce mor'idit% and mortalit% in the communit%# Excessive noise is also responsi'le for sleep distur'ances, potentiall% leading to immune s%stem compromise and hormonal fluctuation# The anno%ance associated &ith excessive noise can also cause stress reactions# 7tress reactions are 8no&n to have negative ps%chological conse6uences such as fatigue, impairment to concentration and headache (E%sel59osepath, et al#, 2 32"# 7ome healthcare professionals have postulated that noise exposure ma% result in depression, exhaustion and attention deficit disorder#

Controlling Noise Sources and the Health Effects of Noise +an% noise control proposals include restrictions on deci'el levels# Tatum (344;", ho&ever, plainl% states that human perception of noise cannot 'e scientificall% measured# The level at &hich noise 'ecomes intrusive or anno%ing varies 'et&een individuals# Therefore, even lo& levels of noise , levels that fall &ithin deci'el guidelines , can have a negative impact on health# 1hile an effective noise control program must include guidance on controlling existing noise sources, it is impossi'le to mitigate all noise ha2ards# The primar% focus of the cit%/s noise control program should 'e on minimi2ing the health effects of noise# *ne of the simplest, most cost5effective ha2ard controls is pu'lic education# 0 comprehensive education program that illustrates the effects of noise, cit% polic% and personal protective measures &ill increase pu'lic a&areness and decrease the negative health outcomes of ur'an noise pollution# 0n education program can 'e coupled &ith a cit%5&ide noise surveillance program# 7uch a program &ould identif% the areas of greatest ris8 and inform the most suscepti'le populations# Increasing the legal enforcement of noise ordinance &ould further reduce the health impact on those experiencing noise distur'ances# It is clear that excessive noise causes negative ph%siological and ps%chological responses in humans# These responses have the potential to develop into long5lasting health conditions# 1hile it is difficult to define accepta'le deci'el limits for pu'lic polic%, alternative measures are availa'le to reduce the impact of noise on pu'lic health#

<eferences .a'isch, 1#, Ising, (#, & 9allacher, =# E# =# (2 :"# (ealth status as a potential effect modifier of

the relation 'et&een noise anno%ance and incidence of ischaemic heart disease# Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60(3 ", !:45>?# <etrieved =anuar% 3@, 2 3: from httpABBsearch#pro6uest#comBdocvie&B34?23!;4>)accountidC2@@>>

.oothro%d, 0# (2

2"# Room acoustics and speech perception# +anuscript su'mitted for

pu'lication, 7an -iego 7tate Dniversit%, 7an -iego, C0# <etrieved =anuar% 3@, 2 3: fromA httpABB&&&5 rohan#sdsu#eduBEa'oothroBfilesBPapersFonF<oom0cousticsB<oomacousticsandspeechperce ption#pdf

E%sel59osepath, K#, -aut, T#, Pinger, 0#, Gehmacher, 1#, & Erren, T# (2 32"# Effects of noise in primar% schools on health facets in german teachers# Noise & Health, 14(?@", 3245:># <etrieved =anuar% 3@, 2 3: fromA Pro6uest

Ising, (#, & Kruppa, .# (2

>"# (ealth effects caused '% noise A Evidence in the literature from

the past 2? %ears# Noise & Health, 6(22", ?53:# <etrieved =anuar% 3@, 2 3: fromA Pro6uest

Tatum, =# .# (344;"# Physics, physiolo y and psycholo y# +anuscript su'mitted for pu'lication, -epartment of Ph%sics and 0stronom%, Dniversit% of Hictoria, <etrieved =anuar% 3@, 2 3: fromA httpABB&fae#proscenia#netBli'rar%BarticlesBtatumFps%cholog%#pdf 1(* (3444"# 0dverse health effects of noise, guidelines for communit% noise, 1(*, 3444#

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