Noise pollution is a type of energy pollution in which distracting, irritating,

or damaging sounds are freely audible. As with other forms of energy

pollution (such as heat and light pollution), noise pollution contaminants are
not physical particles, but rather waves that interfere with naturally-
occurring waves of a similar type in the same environment. Thus, the
definition of noise pollution is open to debate, and there is no clear border as
to which sounds may constitute noise pollution. In the most narrow sense,
sounds are considered noise pollution if they adversely affect wildlife, human
activity, or are capable of damaging physical structures on a regular,
repeating basis. In the broadest sense of the term, a sound may be
considered noise pollution if it disturbs any natural process or causes human
harm, even if the sound does not occur on a regular basis.
The prevailing source of artificial noise pollution is from transportation. In
rural areas, train and airplane noise can disturb wildlife habits, thereby
affecting the manner in which animals in areas around train tracks and
airports hunt and mate. In urban areas, automobile, motorcycle, and even
entertainment noise can cause sleep disruption in humans and animals,
hearing loss, heart disease (as a result of stress), and in severe cases even
mental instability. A notable exception to the rule is the electric, or hybrid-
electric, automobile. Hybrid vehicles are so quite, in fact, that legislation is
pending to actually make them louder. This is in response to numerous
injuries in which pedestrians, unaware of a hybrid vehicle's presence, have
been struck by such vehicles in parking lots and pedestrian crosswalks.

Although most developed nations have government agencies responsible

for the protection of the environment, no nation has a single body that
regulates noise pollution. In the United States, regulation of noise pollution
was stripped from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and passed
on the the individual states in the early 1980's. Although two noise-control
bills passed by the EPA are still in effect, the agency can no longer form
relevant legislation. In the United States, Canada, Europe, and most other
developed parts of the world, different types of noise are managed by
agencies responsible for the source of the noise. Transportation noise is
usually regulated by the relevant transportation ministry, health-related
work noise is often regulated by health ministries and worker's unions, and
entertainment noise such as loud music is a criminal offense in many areas.
As the bodies responsible for noise pollution reduction usually view noise as
an annoyance rather than a problem, and reducing that noise often hurts the
industry financially, little is currently being done to reduce noise pollution in
developed countries.

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 Effects of Noise
pollution

The extent of the noise problem is large. In the EU countries about 40

% of the population are exposed to road traffic noise with an LAeq,T
exceeding 55 dB daytime and 20 % are exposed to levels exceeding 65
dB (Lambert & Vallet, 1994). Taking all exposure to transportation
noise together about half of the EU citizens are estimated to live in
zones which do not ensure acoustic comfort to residents. More than 30
% are exposed at night to noise levels exceeding 55 dB LAeq which
are disturbing to sleep. It is no surprise that annoyance to community
noise is widespread among citizens: in some EU-countries 20-25 % are
being annoyed by road traffic, 2-15 % by aircraft, and 2-4 % by railway
noise (Lambert & Vallet, 1994).
Until now the introduction of noise emission standards for vehicles
have had limited impact on the exposure to road traffic noise
(Sandberg, 1993). Traffic planning and correction policies may
diminish the number of people exposed to the very high community
noise levels (>70 dB LAeq) but the number exposed to moderately high
levels (55-65 dB LAeq) continues to increase in industrialized
countries.
A substantial growth in air transport in Europe is expected in the
future; in the U.K. by 50-80 % in passenger movements over ten years.
General aviation noise at regional airports will increase (Large &
House, 1989). However, at the same time jet aircrafts may become 8
to 12 dB quieter due to regulation. An outlook for exposure to noise
has been made by OECD (1991). The number of noise sources is
expected to increase and is likely to be accompanied by a
deterioration of the noise environment. At the same time, it is
expected that the public will become more aware of noise pollution
and also be protected from noise problem. The OECD (1991) identifies
the following four factors of increasing importance in the future: (1)
Expanding use of increasingly numerous and powerful sources of
noise.
(2) Wider geographical dispersion of noise sources together with
greater individual mobility and spread of leisure activities.
(3) Increasing spread of noise over time particularly in the early
morning, evenings and weekends.
(4) Increasing public expectations which are closely linked to
increases in incomes and in education levels.
The OECD (1991) report forecasts (a) a strengthening of present noise
abatement policies and their applications, (b) a further sharpening of
emission standards, (c) a coordination of noise abatement measures
and transport planning, particularly designed to reduce mobility, and
(d) a coordination of noise abatement measures with urban planning.
High-level noise exposures giving rise to noise-induced hearing deficits
are by no means restricted to occupational situations. Such levels can
also occur in concerts, discotheques, motor sports, shooting ranges,
and leisure activities. Other sources are also important such as music
played back in headphones and impulse noise from toys and fireworks.
It has also been argued that community noise exposure would be a
contributing factor to hearing deficits with increasing age. The
existence of such a “sociacusis” waits for final scientific verification
since so many other factors and agents are also influencing hearing.
The acoustics of a space designed for speech must primarily ensure
clarity and intelligibility. Therefore it is important to design spaces for
optimum reverberation time and spatial-temporal aspects including the
time delay between the direct and first reflected sound.
Planners need to know the likely effects on the noise pollution in a
community of introducing a new noise source as well as increasing the
level of an existing source (Diamond & Rice, 1987). There are a
number of models to predict annoyance due to a combination of noise
sources, such as models of energy summation, of source addition, of
source difference, of response summation and response inhibition, and
of the (subjectively) dominant source (e.g., Vos, 1992a). Policy makers,
when considering applications for new developments, must take into
account maximum levels, equivalent levels, frequency of occurrence,
and operating time of the major noise sources.
Noise Threatens Hearing
Noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss in the 28 million
people with impaired hearing in the United States, and health
statistics suggest a trend that the incidence of hearing loss is
occurring at younger and younger ages. Noise-induced hearing loss,
though preventable, is permanent.
How Loud is Too Loud?
To know if a sound is loud enough to cause damage to your ears, it is
important to know both the level of intensity and the length of
exposure to the sound. The unit used to measure environmental sound
intensity is the decibel (dBA).
Zero decibels is approximately the softest sound the healthy human
ear can hear. The scale increases logarithmically; that is, the level of
perceived loudness doubles every 10 decibels. Experts agree that
continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA, over time, will eventually
harm hearing. In general, the louder the sound, the less time required
before hearing will be affected.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss - How the Damage Occurs
Loud noise assaults the delicate hair cells of the inner ear. Noise-
induced hearing loss typically occurs gradually and without pain. After
exposure to loud noise, a person may experience ringing in the ears or
difficulty hearing. This is called a "temporary threshold shift". After a
few hours (or in some cases, a few days), this temporary shift in
hearing returns to normal. With repeated exposure, however, this
temporary shift in hearing can become permanent. Once permanent
hearing damage has occurred, it is not possible to restore hearing.
Pay Attention to the Warning Signs
Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative across the life span. Often,
by the time a person realizes that there is hearing loss, it is too late.
But there are certain early warning signs to suggest that there may be
a problem. If you experience any of the following early warning signs,
have your hearing tested by a licensed audiologist, or have your ears
examined by an ear doctor.
• A ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in the ears immediately after
exposure to noise.
• A slight muffling of sounds after exposure making it difficult to
understand people when you leave a noisy area.
• Difficulty understanding speech; that is, you can hear all the
words, but you can't understand all of them.
Protect Your Hearing
To avoid noise-induced hearing loss, pay attention to the noises
around you and turn down the volume whenever possible. Avoid or
limit time spent in noisy sports events, rock concerts and night clubs.
Wear adequate hearing protection, such as foam ear plugs or ear
muffs, when you must be in a noisy environment or when using loud
equipment.
　
　

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How to Prevent Noise Pollution

originated by:Anonymous, Flickety, Chuddy Crazee, Seagull (see all)

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Noise pollution is annoying, disruptive your emotional state, and sometimes even bad for your health. Noise
pollution can also affect animals and the environment.

edit Steps

1. 1
Understand what causes noise pollution. As the world becomes more advanced, noise increases. The most
common form of noise pollution now is from transportation, mainly cars, motorbikes, and aircraft.

2.

2
You can avoid noise pollution yourself too:
 ○ Do not use car horns unnecessarily. Areas like hospitals and campuses are silence zones and honking
is prohibited there.
○ Avoid loud music, which hurts your ears and others' ears.

○ Firecrackers are extremely loud. So don't try and burn them unnecessarily.

○ Motors, machines and vehicles also produce loud noises when not maintained properly. Proper
maintenance should be carried out for better performance.
○ If you are working in an area where there are loud noises, you must wear earplugs to prevent loss of
hearing.
○ When going to theme parks and such, avoid riding on the rides which produce a lot of noise. One
example is the ATV, which is like a huge motorbike.
○ Turn off the engine of your car or motorbike when you are not using it. It stops the annoying hum, and
reduces air pollution!
○ Better off, walk or cycle to school! It does wonders to the environment, reduces the amount of air
pollution and noise, and makes you fit!

edit Tips
• If you are exposed to too much noise pollution, your hearing might be damaged. That's why you
should avoid noise pollution.

edit Related wikiHows

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• How to Sleep With Lots of Noise

• How to Reduce Noise Levels in Your Apartment

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• How to Be a Kid Environmentalist

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The coastal environment and human health: microbial indicators, pathogens, sentinels and
reservoirs

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The coastal environment and human health:

microbial indicators, pathogens, sentinels and
reservoirs
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The coastal environment and human health: microbial indicators, pathogens,
Title:
sentinels and reservoirs

Stewart, Jill R.; Gast, Rebecca J.; Fujioka, Roger S.; Solo-Gabriele, Helena M.;
Meschke, Scott; Amaral-Zeettler, Linda A.; del Castillo, Erika; Polz, Martin F.;
Author:
Collier, Tracy K.; Strom, Mark S.; Sinigalliano, Christopher D.; Moeller, Peter
D. R.; Holland, A. Fredrick

Innovative research relating oceans and human health is advancing our

understanding of diseasecausing organisms in coastal ecosystems. Novel
techniques are elucidating the loading, transport and fate of pathogens in
coastal ecosystems, and identifying sources of contamination. This research
is facilitating improved risk assessments for seafood consumers and those
who use the oceans for recreation. A number of challenges still remain and
define future directions of research and public policy. Sample processing
and molecular detection techniques need to be advanced to allow rapid and
specific identification of microbes of public health concern from complex
environmental samples. Water quality standards need to be updated to
Abstrac more accurately reflect health risks and to provide managers with improved
t: tools for decision-making. Greater discrimination of virulent versus harmless
microbes is needed to identify environmental reservoirs of pathogens and
factors leading to human infections. Investigations must include examination
of microbial community dynamics that may be important from a human
health perspective. Further research is needed to evaluate the ecology of
non-enteric water-transmitted diseases. Sentinels should also be established
and monitored, providing early warning of dangers to ecosystem health.
Taken together, this effort will provide more reliable information about
public health risks associated with beaches and seafood consumption, and
how human activities can affect their exposure to diseasecausing organisms
from the oceans.

http://www.ehjournal.net/content/7/S2/S3
URI:
http://hdl.handle.net/1773/15790
Date: 2008

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