Latest news with #noisePollution
Times of Oman
25-06-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Over 20% of Europeans exposed to unhealthy noise pollution
Brussels: More than one in five Europeans are exposed to unhealthily high levels of noise pollution from road, rail and aircraft, according to a report out on Tuesday from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Long-term exposure to the sound of traffic has been connected to a range of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, mental illness, diabetes and premature death. Children and young people are believed to be particularly vulnerable to its far-reaching impacts, which can include educational performance and weight gain. The report finds an estimated 112 million people across 31 countries in Europe live with long-term traffic noise louder than the thresholds of 55 dB set by the European Noise Directive. That is equivalent to a residential street or a normal conversation. The number impacted rises to over 30% of Europeans when measured against stricter World Health Organization recommendations for safe levels of sound. "Noise pollution is often overlooked, considered just an annoyance of everyday life," said Leena Yla-Mononen, executive director of the EEA, but argued "it's a problem all EU Member States need to urgently address if we are to make progress on our EU 2030 zero pollution target to reduce noise pollution." The report identified road traffic as the main problem — particularly in crowded urban areas — impacting an estimated 92 million people across the continent. Only a third of the population in cities assessed have access to quiet, green areas within 400 meters of their homes. Countless studies highlight the health benefits of time spent in nature. Serious health impacts Noise from traffic is the third biggest environmental health threat in Europe, behind air pollution and temperature related factors, according to the report. Across the continent, it results in the annual loss of 1.3 million healthy life years, which the report measures by combining years of life lost due to premature death with those lived in bad health. Environmental noise and the resulting sleep disturbance can trigger both physical and psychological stress responses associated with metabolic illness, stress and anxiety, disease and cognitive impairment. The report, which says millions suffer from sleep disturbances resulting from excessive noise, cites 66,000 related premature deaths as well as tens of thousands of cases of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in Europe each year. It highlights new research pointing at a potential connection to depression and dementia. Too much noise is also taking its toll on the young. The authors say being blasted by the sounds of traffic is causing half a million children to experience reading difficulties and 63,000 to have behavioral challenges. It also draws a connection to more than a quarter of a million overweight young people. Animals suffering from the racket Humans are not the only ones distressed by the din. Wildlife is also being disrupted. Almost a third of Europe's most threatened and valuable protected nature reserves are at the mercy of roaring traffic. In Europe's waters, the noise of shipping, offshore construction and ocean exploration is impacting marine wildlife. Many species, such as whales and dolphins, rely on sound to survive. Studies have found that all animal species change their behavior in response to high levels of noise. Birds such as great tits in cities in Europe, Japan and the UK have been recorded singing higher than their country counterparts, and vocal changes have also been noted in insects, grasshoppers and frogs living near motorways. Among animal species noise pollution can disrupt mating, the rearing of offspring, and make it harder to locate prey. Global challenge but not all suffering equally Noise pollution is also costing the European economy $95.6 billion (€82.43 billion) annually, through loss of productivity resulting from its health impacts. While the report focused on Europe, extreme noise can be found in all major cities, from London to Dhaka to Algiers. In New York, 90% of people using transport are subject to noise that exceeds safety limits and can lead to permanent hearing damage. Around the world, poorer communities are more likely to be located beside industrial plants, landfills or major traffic arteries, exposing them to more noise than wealthier residents in the same city. Experts have suggested noise pollution could be eased by reducing traffic, setting lower speed limits, promoting more public transport as well as electric vehicles and cycle paths. The EEA report says action needs to be taken at both the EU and national level, recommending improved access to quiet and green spaces in cities, as well as measures such as using low noise tires, regular rail maintenance to smooth tracks and optimizing aircraft take-off and landing patterns. It says without additional regulatory or legislative action, the EU is unlikely to reach existing targets aiming for a 30% reduction in the number of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 2030.
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Noise pollution harms health of millions across Europe, report finds
More than 110 million people across Europe suffer high levels of health-damaging noise pollution, according to a report. The resulting physiological stress and sleep disturbance leads to 66,000 early deaths a year and many cases of heart disease, diabetes and depression. The report, from the European Environment Agency (EEA), focuses on noise from cars, trains and aeroplanes and found that 20% of the population of the European Economic Area (EEA) were affected. Separate research, using a slightly lower threshold for dangerous noise pollution, found that 40% of the UK population were exposed to harmful transport noise. Seventeen million people endure particularly high noise pollution – 'long-term, high-annoyance' – and almost 5 million suffer 'severe' sleep disturbance. Fifteen million children live in areas of harmful noise. The harm to health from noise is greater than that from higher-profile risks including secondhand tobacco smoke or lead exposure, and incurs an economic cost of almost €100bn (£86bn) a year, the analysis found. The damage to health is likely to be an underestimate, the researchers said. Using the World Health Organization's stricter threshold for risky noise pollution gives an estimate of 150 million people across Europe exposed. The EU's target to cut the number of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030 will not be met without further action, the researchers said. 'Noise pollution impacts our health by keeping our bodies in a constant state of fight or flight, even if we don't consciously realise it,' said Dr Eulalia Peris at the EEA. 'This can lead to harmful physiological responses such as inflammation and oxidative stress, and over time, this increases the risk of various health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, cognitive impairment in children and mental health problems.' 'Noise pollution is not only an annoyance,' added Peris, who has been affected herself. 'My God, yes. I'm very aware of the impacts of noise pollution, and I'm very sensitive to it. It limits your life.' The report is based on data reported by EEA countries on transport noise, which is the most widespread and significant type of noise pollution. Other kinds, such as loud neighbours and music from bars, are also likely to damage health but are difficult to measure because of their intermittency. The report found 92 million people across Europe were harmed by road transport noise, 18 million by railway noise and 2.6 million by aircraft noise. Published research on the health impact of noise pollution was used to estimate an annual toll of 66,000 premature deaths, 50,000 cases of cardiovascular diseases and 22,000 cases of type 2 diabetes. The number of people in Europe affected by noise fell by only 3% between 2017 and 2022, but the researchers said numerous measures could be taken. Cutting speed limits for vehicles in urban areas and boosting the use of low-noise tyres would cut road traffic noise, they said, as would promoting public transport, walking and cycling. The increasing number of electric cars will reduce noise less than might be expected, the researchers said, because the key source of noise at lower speeds is from the contact between the tyres and the road, not the engine. Traffic noise is also dominated by a small number of very loud vehicles. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Railway noise could be cut by better maintenance of trains and track, and aircraft noise could be reduced by optimising landing and takeoff patterns and encouraging the introduction of quieter planes. 'Noise pollution is often overlooked, considered just an annoyance of everyday life,' said the EEA's executive director, Leena Ylä-Mononen. One reason for this is that transport noise pollution is chronic, unlike air pollution which has peaks that lead to health alerts and raise awareness. 'However, long-term impacts of noise on our health and environment are widespread and significant,' she said. 'Children are also particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise, and it's a problem all countries need to address urgently.'
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US night-sky agency threatened by Trump administration funding cuts
The Trump administration appears poised to cut the US Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD), a little-known office that works to rein in noise and light pollution in national parks, a task that is seen as a vital environmental endeavor. Advocates say the division's work is quiet but important – many plants and animals rely on the darkness, and light pollution is contributing to firefly and other insect die-offs. The office led efforts to reduce light pollution at the Grand Canyon and snowmobile noise that drowned out sounds emanating from the Old Faithful geyser, among other initiatives. 'They're a small but mighty program,' said Kristen Brengel, vice-president of government affairs for the National Park Conservation Association, which advocates for the national park system. 'When you think about it, the national parks are a full sensory experience … and there are scientists behind the scenes who are making sure that you have that world-class experience,' Brengel added. The office is an example of what would be lost if the Trump administration is successful in implementing deep cuts to the US National Park Service, shifting its focus from enhancing and preserving parks to simply managing visitors. The agency's stewardship budget, which funds the NSNSD's office of about 10 employees, is facing a proposed reduction from about $375m to $185m, and advocates say the office is almost certainly threatened. The National Park Service's Fort Collins, Colorado, office, out of which the NSNSD operates, was initially targeted by Elon Musk's 'department of government efficiency' for closure. Court battles have tied up the Trump administration's reduction-in-force (RIF) proposals, for now putting its National Park Service plans on hold. 'Our concern is that this little-known division will be decimated amid the cuts because its work is underappreciated,' said Ruskin Hartley, CEO of DarkSky International, which shares data with the NSNSD and has a similar mission. The NSNSD and the National Park Service did not respond to requests for comment. The NSNSD was established in 2000 with an aim to 'protect, maintain, and restore acoustical and dark night sky environments' throughout the park system. In practice, that's meant a combination of improving lighting in public parks, preserving darkness for wildlife, performing research and promoting dark sky tourism, which is booming, Hartley said. Light pollution is increasing globally at about 10% annually, and around 60% of all known species are nocturnal and rely on the darkness, DarkSky estimates. Light pollution is particularly hard on migratory birds that rely on the moon and stars to navigate, and are drawn to bright light sources, and the light can also disrupt plants' photosynthesis process. The NSNSD in recent decades helped lead projects that aimed to improve lighting at many of the nation's 430 parks, seashores and sites. It retrofitted 5,000 lights in the Grand Canyon national park with lower-watt LEDs that reduced spillage into the sky, and which turned the area into a certified dark sky park. It also adjusted the lighting at the Mt Rushmore national park to reduce spillover, and improved lighting at the Gateway Arch in St Louis. The latter's lights are now turned off during periods of heavy bird traffic in migratory season. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion The NSNSD also aims to ensure people can see the stars. For its purposes and those of DarkSky International, the definition of a 'dark sky' is anywhere in which one can view the Milky Way, Hartley said. About 83% of the US population lives in an area where they cannot. 'You want to have lighting that protects and respects the natural darkness in those parks,' Hartley said. The NSNSD has also 'pioneered' ways to measure, assess, and track changes in natural darkness over time, and it publishes papers on night sky quality, Hartley said. The NSNSD's sounds department helped resolve a 2013 controversy over snowmobiles at Yellowstone. Dozens of extremely loud two-stroke snowmobiles that would gather daily at the Old Faithful geyser were drowning out its sounds, scaring bison and generally degrading the experience, Brengel said. Employees from the NSNSD measured the noise, determined the level at which natural sounds could be heard and wildlife would be less scared. It helped develop rules that required quieter four-stroke snowmobile engines, and limited their numbers to 10 at a time. The effort was seen as a happy compromise, Brengel said. 'They figure out ways to maximize natural sounds while still getting people out in the parks,' Brengel said. 'It's an innovative program that ensures the visitor experience stays intact.' The fight over reduction-in-force proposals in court is important to the NSNSD's survival, Brengel said, but her group is also alerting members of Congress to what the park service cuts would mean. Should the cuts go through, the park service would become a 'visitors' service agency', Brengel added, and would be unable to protect cultural and natural resources, as is statutorily mandated. 'We would sue,' Brengel said.
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Why scheduling quiet time every day is good for your health
Do you have somewhere quiet where you can go? Spending time every day away from noise is good for your health. After air pollution, road, rail and air traffic noise is the second most important cause of ill health in western Europe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Industry, construction, public works and neighbourhood noise all add to what it calls 'environmental noise'. Heart attack , stroke , reduced cognitive performance in children, severe annoyance and sleep disturbance can result from prolonged exposure to such noise, according to the WHO. It is estimated to cause 12,000 premature deaths, and to contribute to 48,000 new cases of heart disease in Europe every year, says the organisation. READ MORE Noise is a health problem for at least one in five EU citizens, according to the European Commission . Yikes. It's hard for urban dwellers to avoid noise, but they are not the only ones affected. In areas affected by noise, the proportion of people 'highly annoyed' by noise is greater in rural areas than noisy urban areas, according to the European Environment Agency . This suggests that unnatural sound, such as wind turbines, perhaps, is more annoying in the context of rural areas and perhaps masks other, more beneficial, natural sounds, according to the 2016 Quiet Areas in Europe report by the Agency. The Environmental Noise Directive is the main EU law for noise pollution. It requires countries to publish noise maps and action plans every five years. It isn't prescriptive about noise limits or mitigations, however. That's for member states to decide for themselves. Action will have to be ramped up if the number of people affected by transport noise is to be reduced by its target of 30 per cent by 2030, says the European Commission. [ Dublin Airport noise could cause heart issues for nearly 17,000 people living nearby Opens in new window ] One action is identifying and preserving areas where there is good environmental noise quality. This kind of tranquillity is often found where there is vegetation, low levels of man-made sounds and the dominance of natural sounds, according to the Quiet Areas report. The visual intrusion of man-made structures and buildings into an otherwise perceived natural landscape can also reduce the sense of tranquillity. Ireland ranked fourth in EU countries where people living in cities of more than 50,000 inhabitants had access to quiet areas within a one-hour drive, according to the report. Those living in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg had the least access to quiet areas. It's important for all of us to get respite from noise pollution and the Environmental Noise Directive allows for the designation and protection of quiet areas. Limerick City and County Council has some areas in mind. Since 2020 Limerick has been inviting its citizens to use the free Hush City app to record information on areas in the city and county where they find peace and tranquillity. This information is then available to policymakers, and it shows others where they can find peace and quiet too. As part of Limerick's Noise Action Plan 2024-2028, the council will assess sound in parks and other green spaces in Adare, Newcastle West, Croom and Abbeyfeale, gathering supportive evidence to have them officially designated as Quiet Areas. [ 'Like living near a helicopter': Residents fed up at takeaway delivery drones buzzing over their homes Opens in new window ] Limerick was ranked 'excellent' by the Environmental Protection Agency for its 2023 noise action plan progress report. The city and county have been using low-noise road surfaces, introducing traffic calming to reduce speeds, conducting noise monitoring surveys and prioritising cycling and walking routes. Noise is about culture and respect among people too. In some areas of Germany, you wouldn't dream of mowing your grass or cutting hedges between 1pm and 3pm as it is typical for older generations to sleep at this time. If you haven't stopped work, you will likely get a gentle reminder from a neighbour to do so. It's a two-way street, where neighbours assure each other some quiet time every day. So whether it's your phone on speaker on public transport, your strimmer going on a Sunday morning, or your dog barking all day, spare a thought for those around you. Don't make noise, make peace.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Noise Is The New Secondhand Smoke
Woman have tinnitus,noise whistling in her ears Summer is here, and so is the seasonal surge in sound, urban noise, social noise, and even the quiet missing from our homes and workplaces. But noise is not just a nuisance. Increasingly, it is a measurable health and business risk. This June series explores how we are rethinking noise not just through avoidance but through innovation. From ear protection to haptic sound and emerging wellness experiences, a new market is emerging. Call it the Noise Economy. It is louder, more disruptive, and more threatening to our health than we realize. Noise is everywhere in my world. As someone who has worn hearing aids for most of my life, I am acutely aware of sound and noise. It is the constant companion I did not invite. Background noise has quietly crept up in volume and impact in restaurants, airports, stores, on the street, and even in my home. And I am not alone. Spend time with younger cohorts today, and you will see that noise is becoming their normal, too. A generation raised on personal digital devices and open-office culture now moves through the day surrounded by an array of auditory factors—alerts, conversations, video conferences, background noise, and personal audio streams. Many attempt to tune out one layer of noise by adding another. The body still takes it in, and the mind still fatigues. Twenty years ago, noise looked different. If you worked in a corporate office, chances are you had walls, a door, or a cubicle providing acoustic separation. Many meetings took place face-to-face or over the phone, not on video. Background chatter was limited. When you left the office, your auditory environment changed again—perhaps the street was noisy, but your home was primarily a place of quiet. Life provided more moments of auditory relief. Today, that relief is harder to find. The way we carry sound has evolved alongside this rise in background noise. The original Sony Walkman, launched in 1979, gave people their first taste of portable music. It was a dedicated device used with intent. In 2001, Apple launched the iPod, making it possible to carry an entire music library in your pocket. Microsoft introduced the Zune in 2006, bringing its vision of portable digital music to market. Then came the iPhone and a wave of Android devices, collapsing music, communication, and constant connectivity into a single screen and pair of earbuds. Now, for many people, audio is an always-on layer of life. We are surrounded by noise and often add more of it ourselves. Today, we live in an always-on auditory environment. Devices chirp, alerts ping, and voices echo across open-plan spaces. In urban environments, construction noise is no longer confined to daytime hours. The piercing sirens of police, fire, and emergency vehicles add another layer of stress to our environments. Restaurants have long been noisy, and in many ways, they remain unchanged. Today, that experience is layered on top of an already noisy lifestyle. Many now intentionally amplify the buzz through background music, believing that more noise equals more energy and revenue. Yet for customers and staff alike, it often leads to the opposite: auditory fatigue and disengagement. At home, HVAC systems hum, and appliances chime. Even wellness spaces, meant to calm us, often rely on background music and brand-driven sound. But here is what is missing from the conversation. Noise is no longer just about how loud it is. It is about how much our brains must process to navigate modern life. The cognitive load of unmanaged sound is becoming one of our time's least discussed health and productivity challenges. Humans evolved in environments where sound signaled something important. Now, we live in a world of meaningless noise, forcing our brains to sort through an endless stream of irrelevant sound. Every notification that pulls your attention, every video meeting layered with background chatter, and every conversation forced through a wall of ambient noise. That constant filtering burns energy, creates stress, and weakens focus and clarity. Over time, it can trigger fatigue, anxiety, and even cardiovascular strain. The World Health Organization classifies noise pollution as Europe's second most significant environmental health threat after air pollution. In the United States, the CDC links chronic noise exposure to sleep disruption, hypertension, and impaired cognitive performance. For employers, this translates to rising workplace fatigue, decreased productivity, more frequent errors, and higher health-related costs. Yet, in most organizations, noise remains an unexamined variable. As leaders examine it, they will find that unmanaged noise carries real costs and clear opportunities for those who act first. For businesses, unmanaged noise is no longer just an operational annoyance. It risks customer experience, employee well-being, and brand value. Leaders who understand this are beginning to gain an edge, and those who ignore it risk falling behind. These impacts are not hypothetical. The data is mounting and tells a clear story that leaders can no longer afford to overlook. The data is clear. Noise is not just affecting personal well-being. It is shaping customer choices and workforce dynamics in measurable ways. Akoio partnered with Chute Gerdeman on the Auditory Experience Will Shape the Future of Retail report. It highlighted that many stores peaked above 80 dB, hindering shoppers, staff, and internal communications, even in luxury environments. Supporting that, Quiet Mark's 2023 UK National Noise Report found that 84 percent of respondents across home, workplace, and hospitality settings consider it essential to have quiet moments. Quiet Mark's 2022 United States study revealed that 68 percent of Americans factor workplace noise levels into their job decisions. In short, noise is not an abstract issue. It is influencing real business outcomes today. Every organization has an opportunity to rethink how it manages auditory health. For leaders ready to take action, these are the first questions to ask: The answers to these questions will shape well—being, brand loyalty, workforce resilience, and competitive advantage. So, where do we go from here? That is where the opportunity lies. We are witnessing the emergence of what I call the Noise Economy. It is an ecosystem of products and experiences that help people manage noise and improve auditory wellness. It spans categories such as: This is no longer a niche. Growth is fueled by aging populations and younger consumers prioritizing sensory health and mental well-being. Over the next few weeks, I will explore these categories in depth, highlighting innovators, opportunities, and what businesses need to know. If your company has not started managing noise as part of its workplace or customer experience strategy, now is the time. For the next generation of customers, employees, and communities, how companies manage sound may prove as critical as how they manage air and light. In upcoming articles, we can begin to understand how to counteract noise by mitigating it and using sound to support our auditory health.
