EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION

• Even short exposure to noise can produce temporary hearing losses.

• Prolonged exposure to noise can lead to a gradual deterioration of the inner ear and subsequent deafness.

• Constant noise causes the blood vessels and muscles to contract. This causes a gradual loss of hearing, tension, nervousness and psychiatric illness. High intensity sounds emitted by many industries and supersonic aircraft, when continued for long periods of time not only disturb but also permanently damage hearing.

• Noise has harmful effects on non-living materials too. Numerous examples can be cited where old buildings and even new constructions have developed cracks under the stress of explosive sounds

- Courtesy by : C.P.R.Environmental Education Centre, Chennai               

Noise pollution affects nearly every aspect of life and probably has damaging physical effects as well. The best-studied and best-defined effect on physical health is the effect of noise on hearing. The research results are clear: loud or sustained noise can damage hearing. The source of the noise is not very important; it can be a pile driver or rock music. What is important is that it can have a lasting impact.

Noise pollution also impacts people's sleep. It can result in mood problems and adversely affect job performance. (See our section on insomnia for more information on the effects of disturbed sleep and steps to take to improve insomnia.)

Several research studies suggest that noise can cause high blood pressure. Others say that psychiatric diseases can be caused by noise. Some of these studies are controversial and are contested by other researchers because so many variables such as age, overall state of health, diet, smoking and drinking habits, socioeconomic factors, and other sources of environmental and social stress must also be taken into account.

It is clear, however, that noise, even though a "non-specific stressor", does cause a physical response. It elicits the same responses as a perceived physical threat would produce: it activates the nervous system, causes the muscles to tense and the heart rate and respiratory rate to increase and prepares the body to fight or to run away. This response-called the "fight or flight" response--underlies all responses to stress.

The long-term effects of this kind of stimulus, of being ready to flee or give battle, are not completely understood. Being continuously under stress is something like sitting on the edge of your chair or waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your body isn't quite sure what will happen next or how to respond, and that state constant confusion has been implicated in the development of a number of diseases.

It is also important to remember that people who sense that they have some control over what happens in their lives are impacted less strongly by stressors than those who feel they have no control, and noise is something over which we have very little control. (See our section on stress for more information about these important problems.)

Noise affects us in another significant way: people exposed to noise feel a greater sense of frustration and annoyance than people whose environment is not as noisy. Annoyance is the expression of the negative feelings experienced when one's activities or the enjoyment of one's surroundings are disrupted. Annoyance can have a major impact on the quality of life and is generally a variable examined when studying the impact of noise.

In addition to the other environmental pollutants, noise can affect not only our moods but also our physical well being, and, just like water and air pollution, must be subject to greater study and more stringent controls.

• Hearing loss
• High blood pressure
• Ulcers
• Depression and
• Psychosomatic problems like nervousness and stress.

That noise has psychological effects is undoubted, so it is important that we take steps to decrease noise pollution.