Noise pollution refers to any sound that is unpleasant, distracting or detrimental to human hearing and may also impact other animals and even the environment.
Human-caused noises pose many difficulties to marine life in the oceans. By disrupting natural ocean noises used by animals to locate food sources and potential mates as well as navigate their environments, humans are creating problems for ocean ecosystems and their inhabitants.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
At any point in time, we hear sounds such as birds chirping, cars honking, voices from co-workers, friends and family and the sounds of nature; but too loud of these noises can damage delicate components in our ears, leading to health problems ranging from stress to high blood pressure and noise pollution affecting sleep quality – impacting overall health and mood in turn.
Noise pollution can arise from many different sources, including traffic, construction work and household appliances like lawnmowers and leaf blowers. Music events and venues such as clubs, concerts, stadiums that pipe in sound may also contribute to noise pollution as can recreational activities like target shooting or hunting or listening to an MP3 player with headphones at high volumes.
While it is impossible to completely avoid noise sources, there are ways you can limit your exposure. Noise over 85 decibels (roughly equivalent to an ambulance siren) for two hours can begin affecting hearing; symptoms include ringing in your ears, muffled speech, and reduced comprehension.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs from exposure to loud sounds over extended periods, whether due to an explosion or ongoing loud exposure over time. While all age groups can be affected, NIHL poses particular danger for children and elderly individuals.
Your hearing may recover if it has not been permanently damaged, however once healthy cells in your inner ear have been lost they cannot be replaced – therefore protecting it against excessive noise is critical for its wellbeing.
Noise pollution doesn’t just pose problems for humans; it also threatens animals and their environments. Wildlife relies on sound to navigate, hunt for food, find mates, and avoid predators; noise pollution caused by ships, oil drills and seismic tests can disrupt animal echolocation resulting in them having fewer young.
Heart Disease
Pollution’s primary effects tend to focus on its impacts on respiratory systems; however, sound can also have detrimental consequences on cardiovascular systems. Studies have demonstrated that noise increases your risk for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart disease by way of various non-auditory mechanisms. Noise exposure stimulates neural systems not directly associated with audition, including the autonomic nervous system and cortical brain centers that control cognitive performance. Research has also demonstrated how environmental noise can disturb sleep, leading to an increase in stress hormones and oxidative stress levels. While the exact mechanism by which noise contributes to cardiovascular disease remains unknown, theories include changes in blood pressure levels, endothelial dysfunction and release of inflammatory mediators as potential contributors.
Noise has been shown to reduce vasodilating hormones such as nitric oxide by activating enzymes that degrade it within your body, which in turn may contribute to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disorders by stiffening arteries and creating plaque formation. Furthermore, noise can trigger anxiety or psychological distress which further exacerbate cardiovascular issues.
With these factors in mind, it should come as no surprise that people living near highways and airports tend to have higher rates of heart disease compared with those living in more peaceful settings. A population-based study out of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School revealed 5% of hospitalizations for heart attacks were attributable to noise exposure – these results align with several other European studies conducted as well.
Researchers employed advanced measurements of sound exposure to examine hospitalization rates for heart disease in different parts of New Jersey, home to busy roadways, railroad lines and three major airports. After conducting analysis on heart attack rates across these areas, the researchers discovered that residents living near transportation noise had 72% greater odds of suffering a heart attack compared to residents in quieter communities – aviation noise raised this risk by 14% per 10 decibels!
Stress
People exposed to noise pollution are vulnerable to stress-induced illness and other health problems, negatively affecting productivity and quality of life. Noise pollution comes from highways, railways, airplane traffic and construction activities; its noise disturbs sleep and leads to hypertension; this pollution also has detrimental effects on immune systems as it damages eardrums while leading to hearing loss and making concentration more challenging.
Sounds such as the rustling of leaves, sirens or crying children all contribute to noise pollution. An ideal sound level for humans is 60 decibels; anything above 85 decibels may be damaging and lead to aural fatigue – an unpleasant numbing and tingling sensation in their ears.
An overwhelming noise environment is also stressful for marine mammals like whales and dolphins, who rely on echolocation to communicate, navigate, and find food in the ocean. Noise pollution interferes with this ability, making it more difficult for these marine creatures to hunt prey or find partners.
Society can take many measures to reduce noise pollution. Societal reform and better urban planning are integral parts of this equation; but individuals can take individual steps as well to minimize noise exposure. They could move their homes to quieter neighborhoods or avoid noisy events or venues whenever possible; in addition, prioritizing quiet products when purchasing vehicles, air conditioners, or any other household appliance may help as well.
Noise pollution poses an invisible but very real threat to human lives and the lives of animals alike. Not only can it disrupt sleep patterns and raise blood pressure levels, it may also contribute to anxiety or mental illness as well as affect our performance at work and cause stress within families – thus making ear protection essential and seeking peaceful environments whenever possible.
Anxiety
Noise pollution goes beyond simply being an inconvenience; its effects can have an impact on mental health as well, often manifesting in anxiety. People living nearby noisy areas tend to experience it most often, although anyone could be susceptible. Unwanted sounds can trigger the brain into constantly monitoring for threats even while sleeping – potentially leading to stress and anxiety as your fight-or-flight responses remain activated 24/7, leading to an overall detrimental impact on mental wellbeing.
Unwanted noise sources range from traffic and airplanes, leaf blowers and construction sites, leaf blow machines and leaf vacuumers, all the way through to leaf blowers in urban, suburban, and rural environments. Poor urban planning or coexistence between industrial buildings and residential properties may also pose issues.
Living in an environment with high noise pollution levels can affect your hearing in several ways. Your ears may become more sensitive, leading to tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Furthermore, it could contribute to depression or difficulty learning – but all these issues can be remedied if steps are taken to address the source.
Noise pollution is a global problem that negatively affects both humans and animals alike, particularly marine life. Ship noise, seismic tests and oil drilling operations all cause tremendous amounts of noise pollution that interferes with communication among various marine species as they attempt to find food or mates; echolocation helps whales and dolphins navigate, communicate, feed and socialise through echolocation technology – but this has major repercussions for whales and dolphins that use echolocation for navigation, communication and feeding purposes.
Noise pollution affects many, yet receives far less consideration than air or water pollution. Yet it has devastating long-term health repercussions and an environmental hazard impacting marine life and terrestrial fauna – up to 1 million healthy life years are estimated lost each year to environmental noise pollution alone in Western European countries alone! However, we all must work together in order to decrease noise pollution levels: by building homes with soundproof walls if they will be located in high noise regions and by informing people about protecting their hearing sensitivity.
