Stop and listen. What do you hear? Ocean waves, or maybe birds chirping? If so, it is worth taking the time to appreciate that peace and serenity, which eludes many Americans who have a far different daily experience−living, working and/or attending school in the midst of daily racket−in other words, noise pollution.
What is noise pollution?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the traditional definition of noise is “unwanted or disturbing sound.” Noise pollution could also be described as any loud and inescapable sounds that jeopardize the health or well-being of humans or animals. You may not think of disruptive noise in the same way you think of land, air or water pollution, but they are all associated with negative health effects, which may be physical, mental or emotional.
As noted by Harvard Medical School, U.S. agencies such as the EPA have deemed noise pollution “a growing danger to the health and welfare of the Nation’s population” for half a century. Yet, threats posed by noise remain “often underestimated,” as noted by the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise.
According to The World Health Organization (WHO) exposure to traffic noise is responsible for a loss of more than 1.5 million healthy life years per year in Western Europe alone, related to annoyance, cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. Additionally, the European Environmental Agency reports that noise ranks second only to air pollution as the environmental exposure most harmful to public health.
The effects of noise pollution on our health
So, how exactly can noise pollution lead to health problems?
Noise induced hearing loss
Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when the sensitive structures in the inner ear are damaged by loud sound−is the second most common cause of diminished hearing, after age-related hearing loss, and affects around 5 percent of the world’s population. Other problems linked to noise pollution include stress-related illnesses, speech interference, sleep disruption, negative endocrine (hormonal) effects, elevated blood pressure and increased incidence of diabetes, arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke.
Sleep complications
Night-time noise can disrupt sleep and increase cortisol levels and oxidative stress. When sleep that is disordered by continual disruptions, called microarousals, individuals may experience increased heart rate, lipid and cortisol levels, as well as elevated blood pressure, all of which favors the development of atherosclerosis and other markers for cardiovascular disease.
Elevated stress levels
Chronic noise is also an emotional stressor. We all have a threshold as to how much emotional turbulence we can effectively manage without adverse effects, but beyond that point, it can be harmful. When we experience a certain level of stress, our body releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline, preparing us for a fight-or-flight response. While this is helpful in acute situations, such as escaping from danger, prolonged release of stress hormones drives inflammation, as these hormones stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (a group of proteins that increase inflammation).
In other words, inflammation-driving stressors like noise pollution place us at a greater risk not just for physical health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, but emotional issues as well, priming the neuroendocrine stress response for depression in some individuals. As one research team found, noise can adversely affect the mental health of children and adolescents, particularly in low-income groups. The dangers of noise pollution were classified into several specific categories, as follows:
Acute health effects:
- Decreased sleep quality and quantity
- Increased annoyance, stress and distraction
- Temporary changes in hearing
Chronic health effects:
- Reduced learning and productivity
- Endocrine (hormonal) disruption
- Hypertension
Long-term risks:
- Heart disease
- Tinnitus
- Permanent/long-term hearing loss
Tinnitus
Individuals who are repeatedly exposed to loud or excessive noise−such as concerts, gunfire, construction racket or heavy machinery−face an elevated risk of developing tinnitus, a condition in which a person hears noises, ringing or buzzing in their own ears. These sounds, which may be low-pitched, high-pitched, roaring, buzzing, whistling or humming, are continuous or intermittent, temporary or permanent, depending on the case. Tinnitus can also be triggered by age-related hearing loss, stress, anxiety and certain medications, as well as head and neck injuries. Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatment options, discussed below.
Hearing loss
Continuous exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss. This can occur gradually over time, particularly in noisy work environments, concert halls, or near construction sites. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations adopted in 1974 and mirrored by the World Health Organization (WHO) have been considered a reasonably “safe” level for protection against hearing loss.
However, these recommendations are not reflected in the average workplace. In fact, research suggests that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 8-hr workplace regulation of 90 dBA may result in a 25 percent excess risk of hearing impairment among workers exposed over a working lifetime.
The WHO has labeled noise pollution as a “threat to public health,” underscoring an urgent need for noise management and pollution reduction to safeguard the public on a global scale. Positive government interventions would include thoughtful urban planning of airports and highways and regulated use of noise-absorbing materials in the construction of transportation infrastructure.
Protecting yourself from the effects of noise pollution
How can you protect yourself from the adverse effects of chronic noise?
Happily, there are effective ways to safely soundproof your lifestyle. For example:
- Use ear protection. This is the easiest and cheapest solution when exposed to loud noises. Gear up with earplugs or noise-canceling headphones in loud environments or activities like mowing the lawn, attending concerts or operating loud machinery.
- Implement white noise machines, which work by emitting soothing sounds, such as rainfall or ocean waves. By masking intrusive noise and drowning out external sound, these devices support peaceful sleep.
- Soundproof windows and doors, using treatments that effectively block out external noise sources. Specialized doors and windows−designed with multiple layers of sound-absorbing materials to provide enhanced sound isolation−are especially beneficial in noisy urban environments.
- Incorporate acoustic panels in walls and/or the ceiling, which are designed to absorb and block sound waves. By reducing echoes, reverberations and unwanted noise, these panels create a more peaceful, serene atmosphere in homes, offices, recording studios, conference rooms, etc.
- Install flooring underlays, which help to reduce impact noise in multi-story buildings. With flooring underlays in spaces with noisy activity, such as band rehearsal rooms and workshops, you can minimize noise transmission through floors for a quieter space.
- Utilize noise-proofing insulation. By inserting high-density acoustic insulation into walls, floors and ceilings, you can minimize noise infiltration and reduce disturbance to your living or working space.
Natural help for tinnitus
What if you already have noise-related health problems, such as tinnitus?
Tinnitus is one of the most prevalent disorders linked to noise pollution. If you or your loved ones struggle with this disorder, take heart. Although there is no cure, tinnitus can be managed safely and effectively in many cases. Natural solutions include:
Natural Care RingStop. This homeopathic, non-drowsy remedy helps provide relief for sensitivity to noise, as well as ringing or buzzing in the ears.
Nature’s Answer Alive and Alert Bio-Ear. An easy-to-use topical formula, this remedy soothes sensitivity to sound to safely silence ear noise.
Clear Products Clear Tinnitus®. This non-habit forming, homeopathic/herbal formula may help soothe and minimize discomfort from ringing in the ears.
Noise pollution and your pets
How do your four-legged family members handle noise pollution?
Noise pollution can endanger your companion animals as well, by promoting stress and anxiety, disrupted sleep, increased heart rate and spatial disorientation−which is the inability to accurately determine one’s position, motion or altitude in relation to one’s surroundings.
If you could use some natural support for your beloved animal friends prone to noise-related anxiety, Bach Rescue Remedy Dropper Stress Relief For Pets is a safe, effective, alcohol-free formula you can slip into food and water, or even rub into your pet’s belly to calm them down when noise levels rise.
It can be easy to take our sense of hearing for granted, but it is well worth safeguarding, which is easier to do when you are familiar with the best practices for protection against noise pollution. Cheers to your healthy hearing!
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