Human health Noise pollution affects both
health and
behavior. Unwanted sound (noise) can damage physiological health and
mental health. Noise pollution is associated with several health conditions, including cardiovascular disorders,
hypertension, high stress levels,
tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects..In addition to
hearing damage, chronic exposure to
environmental noise is linked to broader
health effects including
cardiovascular disease,
hypertension,
sleep disturbance,
stress,
anxiety, and reduced
cognitive performance Research indicates that prolonged noise exposure can activate the body’s stress response, elevate
stress hormones, and contribute to increased risk of
heart attacks,
strokes, and
metabolic disorders such as
diabetes, particularly in populations exposed to high traffic noise levels.According to a research article, exposure to sound levels exceeding 81 dB was associated with a higher prevalence of
prehypertension and
hypertension in a local population in Pakistan. According to a 2019 review of the existing literature, noise pollution was associated with faster
cognitive decline. Across Europe, according to the
European Environment Agency, it estimated 113 million people are affected by road traffic noise levels above 55 decibels, the threshold at which noise becomes harmful to human health by the WHO's definition. Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleep or conversation, or disrupts or diminishes one's quality of life.
Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 A-weighted
decibels. A comparison of
Maaban tribesmen, who were insignificantly exposed to transportation or industrial noise, to a typical U.S. population showed that chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise contributes to hearing loss. It is less clear how humans adapt to noise subjectively. Tolerance for noise is frequently independent of decibel levels. Murray Schafer's soundscape research was groundbreaking in this regard. In his work, he makes compelling arguments about how humans relate to noise on a subjective level, and how such subjectivity is conditioned by culture. Schafer notes that sound is an expression of power in material culture. As such, fast cars or Harley Davidson motorcycles with aftermarket pipes tend to have louder engines not only for safety reasons, but for expressions of power by dominating the soundscape with a particular sound. Noise pollution can have negative effects on adults and children on the
autism spectrum. Those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can have hyperacusis, which is an abnormal sensitivity to sound. People with ASD who experience hyperacusis may have unpleasant emotions, such as fear and anxiety, and uncomfortable physical sensations in noisy environments with loud sounds. This can cause individuals with ASD to avoid environments with noise pollution, which in turn can result in isolation and negatively affect their quality of life. Sudden explosive noises typical of high-performance car exhausts and car alarms are types of noise pollution that can affect people with ASD. An updated thorough review of noise and human cognition defines environmental noise exposure as a major global public health concern, arguing that tighter government controls are required to reduce its impact on learning, attention, and cognitive performance. Broader assessments of noise pollution state that these cardiovascular and cognitive impacts demonstrate why governments require enforceable noise limitations and active monitoring to minimize long-term harm to human health and ecosystems. While the elderly may have cardiac problems due to noise, according to the World Health Organization, children are especially vulnerable to noise, and the effects that noise has on children may be permanent. Noise poses a serious threat to a child's physical and psychological health, and may negatively interfere with a child's learning and behavior. Exposure to persistent noise pollution shows how important maintaining
environmental health is in keeping
children and
elderly healthy.
Wildlife Noise generated by traffic, ships, vehicles, and aircraft can affect the survivability of wildlife species and can reach undisturbed habitats. Although sounds are commonly present in the environment, anthropogenic noises are distinguishable due to differences in frequency and amplitude. Many animals use sounds to communicate with others of their species, whether that is for reproduction purposes, navigation, or to notify others of prey or predators. However, anthropogenic noises inhibit species from detecting these sounds, affecting overall communication within the population. Marine species such as
cetaceans (whales and dolphins) rely on sound for
echolocation and are particularly vulnerable to ship noise and
sonar, which has been associated with strandings and disorientation among individuals. Terrestrial wildlife, including birds and insects, may also experience disrupted breeding and increased
stress responses under high
ambient noise levels [https://www.britannica.com/science/noise-pollution. Species such as birds,
amphibians,
reptiles, fishes,
mammals, and
invertebrates are examples of biological groups that are impacted by noise pollution. If animals cannot communicate with one another, this would reproduction may decline (due to inability to find mates) and mortality may increase (due to inability to detect predators). The same study showed that daytime noise was a stronger predictor of nocturnal singing than night-time
light pollution, to which the phenomenon often is attributed. Anthropogenic noise reduced the species richness of birds found in Neotropical urban parks.
Zebra finches become less faithful to their partners when exposed to traffic noise. This could alter a population's evolutionary trajectory by selecting traits, sapping resources normally devoted to other activities and thus leading to profound genetic and evolutionary consequences.
Why invertebrates are affected Several reasons have been identified relating to hypersensitivity in invertebrates when exposed to
anthropogenic noise. Invertebrates have evolved to pick up sound, and a large portion of their physiology is adapted for the purpose of detecting environmental vibrations. Antennae or hairs on the organism pick up particle motion. Anthropogenic noise created in the marine environment, such as pile driving and shipping, are picked up through particle motion; these activities exemplify near-field stimuli. Therefore, not only does anthropogenic noise often mask invertebrate communication, but it also negatively impacts other biological system functions through noise-induced stress. Proper selection of hermit crab shells strongly contributes to their ability to survive. Shells offer protection against predators, high salinity and desiccation. The hermit crab responded to the noise by lifting the shell off of the ground multiple times, then vacating the shell to examine it before returning inside. Since the responses recorded are similar to those identified when faced with a predator, it is implied that the squid initially viewed the sounds as a threat. However, it was also noted that the alarm responses decreased over a period of time, signifying that the squid had likely acclimated to the noise. The study suggested that while the dolphin's clicks were not affected, their whistles were because of susceptibility to
auditory masking. For many marine populations, sound is their primary sense used for their survival; able to detect sound hundreds to thousands of kilometers away from a source, while vision is limited to tens of meters underwater. One study discovered that as
seismic noises and
naval sonar increases in marine ecosystems,
cetacean, such as whales and dolphins, diversity decreases. Noise pollution has also impaired fish hearing, killed and isolated whale populations, intensified stress response in marine species, and changed species' physiology. Because marine species are sensitive to noise, most marine wildlife are located in undisturbed habitats or areas not exposed to significant anthropogenic noise, limiting suitable habitats to forage and mate. Whales have changed their migration route to avoid anthropogenic noise, as well as altering their calls. Research on
narwhals in the Canadian Arctic found that individuals significantly reduced their acoustic activity in the presence of ships, highlighting the potential for vessel noise to disrupt essential behaviors such as navigation, foraging, and communication. For many marine organisms, sound is the primary means of learning about their environments. For example, many species of marine mammals and fish use sound as their primary means of navigating, communicating, and foraging. Anthropogenic noise can have a detrimental effect on animals, increasing the risk of death by changing the delicate balance in predator or prey detection and avoidance, and interfering with the use of the sounds in communication, especially in relation to reproduction, and in navigation and echolocation. These effects then may alter more interactions within a community through indirect ("
domino") effects. Acoustic overexposure can lead to temporary or permanent loss of hearing. Noise pollution may have caused the death of certain species of whales that
beached themselves after being exposed to the loud sound of military
sonar. (see also
Marine mammals and sonar) Up until recently, most research on noise impacts has been focused on marine mammals, and to a lesser degree, fish. In the past few years, scientists have shifted to conducting studies on invertebrates and their responses to anthropogenic sounds in the marine environment. This research is essential, especially considering that invertebrates make up 75% of marine species, and thus compose a large percentage of ocean food webs. Larger crabs were noted to be negatively affected more by the sounds than smaller crabs. Repeated exposure to the sounds did lead to
acclimatization. The once-calm sea environment is now noisy and chaotic due to ships, oil drilling, sonar equipment, and seismic testing. The principal anthropogenic noise sources come from merchant ships, naval sonar operations, underwater explosions (nuclear), and seismic exploration by oil and gas industries. Cargo ships generate high levels of noise due to propellers and diesel engines. This noise pollution significantly raises the low-frequency ambient noise levels above those caused by wind. Animals such as whales that depend on sound for communication can be affected by this noise in various ways. Higher ambient noise levels also cause animals to vocalize more loudly, which is called the
Lombard effect. Researchers have found that
humpback whales' song lengths were longer when low-frequency sonar was active nearby.
Coral Reefs Noise pollution has emerged as a prominent stressor on
coral reef ecosystems. Coral reefs are among the most important ecosystems on Earth, and are of great importance to several communities and cultures around the world, that depend on the reefs for the services they provide, such as fishing and tourism. The reefs contribute substantially to global
biodiversity and productivity, and is a critical part of the support systems of the earth. Anthropogenic noise, originating from human activities, has increased underwater noise in the natural sound environment of the reefs. The preeminent sources of noise pollution on coral reefs are boat and ship activities. The sound created by the crossing of boats and ships overlaps with the natural sounds of the coral reef organisms. This pollution impacts the various organisms inhabiting the coral reefs in different ways, and ultimately damages the capabilities of the reef and may cause permanent deterioration. Healthy coral reefs are naturally noisy, consisting of the sounds of breaking waves and tumbling rocks, as well as the sounds produced by fish and other organisms.
Marine organisms use sound for purposes such as navigating, foraging, communicating, and reproductive activities. Several different types of anthropogenic noise are at the same frequencies as marine organisms in coral reefs use for navigation, communication, and other purposes, which disturbs the natural sound environment of the coral reefs. Both temporary and permanent noise pollution has been found to induce changes in the distributional, physiological, and behavioral patterns of coral reef organisms. Some of the observed changes has been compromised hearing, increased heart rate in
coral fish and a reduction in the number of
larvae reaching their settlement areas. Ultimately, the outcome of such changes results in reduced survival rates and altered patterns which potentially alters the entirety of the reef ecosystem. A study conducted on species of coral larvae, which are crucial for the expansion of coral reefs, discovered that the larvae oriented towards the sound of healthy reefs. The noise created by anthropogenic activities could mask this soundscape, hindering the larvae from swimming towards the reef. Noise pollution ultimately poses a threat to the behavioral patterns of several coral organisms. A study conducted on noise pollution in the Yangtze River suggested that the elevated levels of noise pollution temporarily altered the hearing threshold of the finless porpoises and posed a significant threat to their survival. The females produce
acoustic signals that are shorter and primarily low frequency and amplitude, in response to the male's song. Research has found that this species of grasshopper changes its mating call in response to loud traffic noise. Lampe and Schmoll (2012) found that male grasshoppers from quiet habitats have a local frequency maximum of about 7319 Hz.
Impacts on development Boat-noise has been shown to affect the embryonic development and fitness of the sea hare
Stylocheilus striatus. Anthropogenic noise can alter conditions in the environment that have a negative effect on invertebrate survival. Although embryos can adapt to normal changes in their environment, evidence suggests they are not well adapted to endure the negative effects of noise pollution. Studies have been conducted on the sea hare to determine the effects of boat noise on the early stages of life and the development of embryos. Researchers have studied sea hares from the lagoon of
Moorea Island, French Polynesia. In the study, recordings of boat noise were made by using a hydrophone. Experiments have examined the behavior and physiology of the clam (
Ruditapes philippinarum), the decapod (
Nephrops norvegicus), and the brittlestar (
Amphiura filiformis) that are affected by sounds resembling shipping and building noises. Oysters perceive near-field sound vibrations by utilizing statocysts. In addition, they have superficial receptors that detect variations in water pressure. Sound pressure waves from shipping can be produced below 200 Hz. Pile driving generates noise between 20 and 1000 Hz. In addition, large explosions can create frequencies ranging from 10 to 200 Hz.
M. gigas can detect these noise sources because their sensory system can detect sound in the 10 to < 1000 Hz range. Noise pollution has also altered avian communities and diversity. Anthropogenic noises have a similar effect on bird population as seen in marine ecosystems, where noises reduce reproductive success; cannot detect predators due to interferences of anthropogenic noises, minimize nesting areas, increase stress response, and
species abundances and richness declining. ==Noise control==