TITLE:
What Does “Noise Pollution” Mean?
AUTHORS:
Alice Elizabeth González
KEYWORDS:
Noise Pollution; Effects of Noise; Noise Exposure
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.4,
March
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: Noise features different characteristics that make it different from
every other “classic” pollutant. Noise is invisible; it does not smell; it
disappears when the source is turned off and leaves no traces in the
environment. In addition, when people perceive something wrong about their
hearing capacity, it is often long time after the beginning of noise exposure.
This fact contributes to strengthening the misconception that noise is not
harmful to human health or, at least, efforts and funds aim preferably at
controling and decreasing the emission of other pollutants. Adding to this,
most people tend to consider that noise is the price to pay for accessing to
the amenities of the Technological Era and it is indivisible and inevitably
linked to them. Last but not least, noise pollution could adversely affect
ecosystems and ecological services. Then, how is it possible to convince the
decision makers that noise pollution is one of the major current environmental
problems? The aim of
this paper is to discuss step by step the applicability of noise of a “pollution”
definition, as a way to ease the understanding that lowering environmental
noise levels should be prioritized: because it will lead to a healthier and
better society.