CFP: Noise gets low billing as an environmental hazard. Bianca Bosker notes, “There is no Michael Pollan of sound. When The New Yorker recently proposed noise pollution as the next public health crisis, the internet scoffed. Noise is treated less as a health risk than an aesthetic nuisance, a cause for people who, in between rounds of golf and art openings, fuss over the leaf blowers outside their vacation homes. Complaining about noise elicits eye rolls. Nothing will get you labeled a crank faster.” 1
Today millions of Americans suffer from noise pollution
In 1960, there were no boom boxes, no boom cars, no leaf blowers, no jet skis, nor car alarms and hardly any snowmobiles. 2
The stereo sound systems we have in our cars today are much louder than the sound system the Beatles used for their concerts in the sixties.
Today millions of Americans suffer from noise pollution which can result in hearing loss and a very important point is that hearing loss is irreversible. Once hearing is lost it’s lost forever. 3
Scientists have known for decades that noise, even seemingly innocuous volume of car traffic, is bad for us. “Calling noise a nuisance is like calling smog an inconvenience,” former US Surgeon General William Stewart said in 1978. In the years since, numerous studies have only underscored his assertion that noise “must be considered a hazard to the health of people everywhere.” Say you’re trying to fall asleep. You may think you’ve tuned out the grumble of trucks downshifting outside, but your body has not. Your adrenal glands are pumping stress hormones, your blood pressure and heart rate are rising, your digestion is slowing down. Your brain pressure continues to process sounds while you snooze, and your blood pressure spikes in response to clatter as low as 33 decibels, slightly louder than a purring cat. 1
Experts say your body does not adapt to noise. Large scale studies show that if the din keeps up, over days, months, years—noise exposure increases your risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and heart attacks, as well as strokes, diabetes, dementia, and depression. Children suffer not only physically but also behaviorally and cognitively.
In the extreme, sound becomes a weapon
In the extreme, sound becomes a weapon. Since at least the 1960, scientists have investigated sound’s potential to subdue hostage takers, protestors, and enemy troops, against whom on expert proposed using low frequency sound, because it apparently induces disorientation, vomiting fits, bowel spasms, uncontrollable defecation.
Study after study has reached the hardly earth-shattering conclusion that we largely prefer the sounds of nature to those of machines. A 2008 research project that played subjects 75 recordings ranging from a cat’s meow to skidding tires, found the five most agreeable sounds to be running water, bubbling water, flowing water, a small waterfall, and a baby laughing. 1 KEEP READING
I SUFFER FROM PTSD AND NOISE POLLUTION…BUT IT’S NOT FROM THE COMBAT…IT’S FROM HAVING BEEN MARRIED WITH CHILDREN!!!
The noise most bothering me is coming from Democrats.
Once in awhile the three great horned owls living in our woods get a little carried away calling back and forth in the evening. And, in the morning, the crows can be a little loud as they arrange themselves around the neighboring fields. In the Fall and Winter it’t not unusual to hear a chain saw working as someone gathers firewood. Sundays are almost always perfectly quiet.
I lived in Houston to make money. I moved back to the Piney Woods of East Texas to live.
harley riders better watch out
or they will put a whole new meaning to outlaw bikers
I live near a RR crossing, but the noise that actually wakes me at night is not the trains, its the sicking noise from democrats in Washington in their death throes. I hope they go quickly.
“Millions of Americans suffer from noise pollution”
…well, supposedly 10 million people watched the Democrat debates last time, but I’m not sure it’s fair to characterize Democrat voters as “Americans”…
Did you say bowel spasms?
Being serious about it, this could be a part of the problem of degenerating behavior in our world today.
Music and musical tones affect you psychologically and emotionally, and that effect lasts for a longer period than just the time listening to it.
Otherwise, there would be no music.
…well, I’m told that ONE thing isn’t noise pollution, anyway…
https://youtu.be/X_IWlPHMziU
WHUT?
I have a soundproofed basement and its like a sensory deprivation chamber. Love it.
But just as much as noise pollution is light pollution. I’m 25 miles outside of a metro city and it was beautiful at night the first few years. Now, there’s a Walmart 13 miles away and I can see their all night parking lot lights pollute the horizon. Same for 24 hour trucks stops by an interstate 5 miles away.
Guess I need to move out another 25.
I am extremely sensitive to noise and there is one particular noise that I absolutely cannot stand: the chanting of fans at sporting events, especially soccer. The genuine response to a good play or a goal isn’t so bad, but it’s the droning of their chants that is insufferable. I don’t know how the players can even concentrate on their game with that constant din. It’s quite awful.
AbigailAdams – I was just telling someone that I suspect the general monotone human voice noise heard on TV during baseball, football games is actually filler noise sweetened by the stations. Like the laugh tracks on sitcoms, applause on talk shows, or the loud ‘conversation’ restaurant noise in restaurants on TV.
My pet peeves- People who chew .gum with their mouths open and crack it every split second. They can do it while they’re talking, too. WTF!?
Also, people who drive with hiphop at full volume in their cars.
But, I know they’ll be deaf soon. LOL.
I especially like rest rooms with jet aircraft engines on the wall. Their melodious sounds resonate so beautifully in the tile lined room.
Join NoisefreeAmerica.
Another CRISIS!
Like vaping!
Or Opioids!
Or College Debt!
Or Insufferable Insolence!
Or the Heartbreak of Psoriasis!
Or Transgender Disrespect!
Congress MUST act NOW!
Rights must be curtailed – Peach Foty-Fie! – fo da l’il chirrens!
izlamo delenda est …
I’m sorry? What was it that everyone was saying? I had my hearing aids turned off.
Is that you Admiral Stockdale?