There is much noise in today’s world, drowning out sounds of nature. Natural sounds are usually soothing, and research shows that they are beneficial to our well-being. We all know cities are noisy – and the bigger the city, the noisier it is. But extraneous noise is not confined to cities – it’s all over, on land and in the sea. For a visual representation of where the noise is, go to: Map of quiet areas: bit.ly/3dJPNrB
Sources of noise pollution
Vehicle traffic: Combined with air traffic is the number one source of noise pollution
Air traffic: Commercial airplanes, private planes, helicopters, drones
Construction: More of a problem within the city, where large equipment is used. Power tools in home construction will be a nuisance to those in close vicinity only.
Industry: Residential areas near or mixed with industrial buildings greatly affected. Industry workers at risk, ear protection required.
define it
NOISE POLLUTION
Prolonged or regular exposure to elevated sound levels that may lead to adverse effects to humans or other animals.
ACOUSTICS
The science of sound, including the generation, transmission, and effects of sound waves, both audible and inaudible.
AMBIENT NOISE
The total of all noise in the environment, other than the noise from the source of interest. This term is used interchangeably with background noise.
HEARING LEVEL
A measured threshold of hearing at a specified frequency, relative to a specified standard of normal hearing.
SOUND PRESSURE
The instantaneous difference between the actual pressure produced by a sound wave and the average or barometric pressure at a given point in space.
Health effects
Human
■ High blood pressure
■ Hearing loss
■ Sleep disturbances
■ Cognitive functioning, such as memory, attention and concentration. Results problems learning for school-children. Adults working under such circumstances may have trouble doing their jobs.
Birds
■ Change in their calls – birds sing to attract mates, or send alarm calls when predators are near.
■ City-dwelling birds will increase the frequency or amplitude of their calls. They may also sing more at night. During the early days of Covid, these same birds sang more quietly than normal.
■ Chronic stress – unable to hear predators over human-related noises, sitting birds can’t tell if it’s safe to leave the nest to find food for their chicks.
■ Chicks are smaller and therefore less likely to survive, reducing populations. Some chicks never hatch.
■ Birds who sing at a lower frequency delay nesting.
Marine Life
■ Sonar exercises can cause whales to beach themselves, which usually results in their death.
■ Fish and other marine animals may move to a new location and often have trouble surviving in the new environment.
■ Underwater noise disrupts normal communication, making it difficult for sea animals to find mates, food or sound an alarm.
■ Some fish have shown to be physically harmed by sound waves.
Land Animals
■ May interfere with their ability to find food
■ Changes migration patterns.
■ May cause fertility problems
■ Vibration from noise sources can also cause physical harm.
