Traffic, noisy neighbours, building noise, leaf blowers, trucks, buses, booming car stereo systems – are just a few of the culprits polluting our lives and making us sick.
We’ve known for decades that super-loud sound can deafen us. But damaged hearing is just the beginning. A plane flying overhead or a snoring bed-mate can increase blood pressure and heart rate and send stress hormones surging into the bloodstream.
This chain of events can create health problems when it happens all night long, every night of the week. The ability of children to learn is compromised by noise and it may worsen some mental illnesses.
George Dodd of the New Zealand Acoustical Society says recorded noise complaints in Auckland and Christchurch have clearly risen over the last 2-3 years with the growth in numbers not able to be explained simply by our increase in population. Statistics are mostly around noisy neighbours – their TV’s and other home entertainment systems, children and barking dogs.
“A factor may well be that we are seeing a societal increase in self-centredness and less caring for, and taking less responsibility towards one’s neighbours. It’s my concern too that our housing (especially apartments and townhouses) is simply not built to standards which are sufficient to cope with the sound levels that are part of modern living.”
On one hand there is industrial noise and leisure activity noise, such as rock concerts and iPod use that can cause hearing loss and-or tinnitus. On the other hand there is environmental noise caused by road or aircraft traffic which can trigger stress responses.
Long term exposure to environmental noise, especially at night, causes chronic disturbance of the natural sleep pattern – even if we don’t stir from our slumber. Neurosis, hysteria, anxiety, stress, nausea, aggression, argumentativeness and social conflict are just a few of the emotional problems linked to uncontrolled noise.
According to a 2004 study published in the British Medical Journal, people living near the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam were more likely to need sleep medication, take pills for heart disease and high blood pressure and report poor general health.
In New Zealand we are continuously exposed to new sources of noise. For example we are beginning to see more wind turbine generators being built to make use of the renewable energy source, however their potential for significant noise annoyance is a concern for any developments near to dwellings.
It’s not all depressing and neighbourhood wars though – technological advances and legislation are working to help. Acoustical engineers are finding ways to reduce noise in hospitals, prisons and schools, while road surfaces are constantly refined. Laws are cracking down on building codes, pub-noise, car stereos and mufflers, while anti-noise groups are proposing bans on car alarms, leaf blowers and setting time frames for construction work and garbage collection.
We can help control noise where we live by paying attention to designing good dwellings with improved construction and being considerate of our neighbours by limiting sounds we make outdoors – not using loudspeakers on decks or with windows open and shutting off car alarms and car-lock beeps.
Now worried that a snoring spouse may shorten your lifespan? Try some earplugs – there’s no evidence yet you’ll live longer but at least you’ll sleep better.
|
|
Read all the latest information and updates from NFD Inc. Latest Issue Out now