UN experts note that noise affects the mental and physical health of people of all age groups: it causes sleep disturbances, irritation and headaches, and can also contribute to the development of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes and irreversible hearing impairment.
In Europe alone, 12 thousand premature deaths and 48 thousand new cases of coronary heart disease associated with long-term exposure to noise are recorded annually. In New York City, 90 percent of residents who use public transportation are exposed to noise levels exceeding the permissible limit of 70 dB. High noise levels disrupt the acoustic communications used by urban birds, frogs and insects.
WHO experts explain: by analogy with air and water, the sound environment around us can also be subject to pollution; noise refers to sounds that cause unpleasant sensations. WHO lists its main sources in Europe as transport (road, rail, air), wind turbines, and entertainment events.
Constantly being in a noisy environment releases the stress hormone cortisol, which damages blood vessels. As a result, the body’s resistance decreases, which in turn leads to a deterioration in well-being and overall standard of living.
Noise affects cognitive abilities, especially in children. A group of researchers from the University of Mainz found that noise exposure negatively affects children’s development, especially attention, memory, and reading skills.
The authors of the report propose solving the problem with the help of green spaces that can absorb acoustic energy and dissipate noise. Rows of trees along highways can reduce noise levels by 12 dB. Abandoning cars and increasing the use of bicycles and scooters by citizens is another option for reducing noise in cities. When designing cities, the report notes, it is necessary to take all these aspects into account, building bicycle paths and arranging parks in which birdsong can be heard rather than traffic noise.