Noise

In relation to environmental pollution, noise is normally associated with annoying sound waves in communities, but noise is also a threat to public health. As asserted by Dr. William H. Stewart, former U.S. Surgeon General, “Calling noise a nuisance is like calling smog an inconvenience. Noise must be considered a hazard to the health of people everywhere.”

Environmental noise is any combination of sounds that disturbs desired actions and the health of individuals or groups in a particular geography. There is an inherently subjective emphasis in the definition, since uniqueness of the perceptual experience makes noise differently perceived by each person. To make things more complicated, the invisibility of sound waves and the cumulative nature of their effects make noise a slippery pollution issue for regulators, industry, environmental groups, and the general public. Community noise (also called environmental noise, residential noise, or domestic noise) is defined as noise emitted from all sources except noise at the industrial workplace. Main sources of community noise include road, rail, and air traffic; industries; construction and public works; and the neighborhood. The main indoor noise sources are ventilation systems, office machines, home appliances, and neighbors.