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HEALTH EFFECTS OF NOISE EXPOSURE

Many of us might consider hearing loss as the sole health concern when it comes to a conversation about noise pollution. Those more directly involved in noise research say otherwise.

Research by the Ministry of Health, for the Czech Republic compiled noise maps for the city of Prague and found that the city suffer from a constant noise level of 65dB. Quite intolerable on an ongoing basis.

They found a clearly diagnosable relationship between these ongoing noise levels and illness (fatigue, depression, aggressiveness, lack of sleep). The EU is now legislating the use of these "noise maps" to create an action plan for reducing the noise burden.

According to experts, noise of more than 65 dB is intolerable in the long-term and has been proven to be detrimental to health,” the NGO added in its analysis. more here

The citizens of Prague have now defended themselves and their health by filing a series of lawsuits forcing the city to develop noise reduction plans to drop the noise levels to 45 dB during the day and 35 dB at night.

The story here, on the North American continent is no different. Noise has been shown to have significant impact on human physiology.

At The Most Basic Level: LOSS OF HEARING CAPACITY

The principal health related effect of noise exposure is hearing loss.

Excessive noise can destroy the ear's ability to hear, and the damaged is not reversible.

Note that the damage to your hearing is dependant on:

1. how loud the noise is
2. the length of exposure

People should wear a hearing protector if the noise or sound level exceeds 85 decibels (A-weighted) or dB(A).

Hearing protectors reduce the noise exposure level and the risk of hearing loss. Finding the right one appropriate to the environment is the trick.

 

Fatigue:

Many individuals CANNOT sleep in noisy environments. Thus sleep deprivation is an ongoing issue for those that do not have the options to move to quieter neighbourhoods.

In the Czech Study above, research suggested that 10% of the population was forced to deal with excessive night time noise.

Putting this in the context of a hobbyist wood shop, sleep deprivation may not be an issue, but certainly excessive noise all day long can certainly reduce concentration levels and lead to less attentive operation of equipment. Given that ALL woodworking tools are sharp and cut fingers, it may be a point well taken that reducing noise and creating a quieter work environment may have greater benefits than just avoiding hearing loss.

Stress:

Long term exposure to noise is considered to be morphological It leads to functional changes that lower your bodies resistance to stress or increases it sensitivity to other negative influences... frustration in talking over load machinery, leading to poor communication, more accidents, creating lower productivity and a viscous cycle of more stress

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