NOISE/NOTES
By Eoin A. King, NNI Editor
NNI is on Facebook and Twitter – we try to keep our readers informed with noise news from all across the globe by highlighting interesting research and projects. Here is a roundup of some of the stories that have been making headlines. Follow @NNIEditor to stay up to date with all noise-related news.
How traffic noise hurts children’s brains
The BBC is reporting that there is growing awareness of the negative impact of noise on children’s health and learning, and this has prompted various cities to take action towards quieter environments. It points to a 1975 study in New York, where high noise levels in classrooms near subway tracks disrupted learning until interventions were made following a study by Arline Bronzaft, highlighting the detrimental effects on students’ reading abilities. Nowadays, noise pollution is recognized as a major public health issue, contributing to stress, sleep disturbances, and increased risk of chronic conditions. Studies, such as those in Barcelona and London, have shown that traffic noise can impair children’s cognitive development and academic performance. Consequently, cities like Barcelona are implementing urban designs such as “superblocks” to reduce traffic and create greener, quieter spaces to improve children’s learning environments and overall well-being.
Calls for more noise pollution regulation in the US
In the United States, NPR reports that Quiet Communities, an anti-noise advocacy group, has sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to enforce the Noise Control Act, which mandates the protection of public health and the environment from noise pollution. The group aims to revive federal efforts to regulate noise, which began promisingly in the 1970s with the establishment of the EPA’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control. However, the office was defunded in 1981 under the Reagan administration, shifting the responsibility to local communities. Despite its impact, noise pollution receives less attention and funding compared to other environmental issues. Researchers and advocates continue to call for renewed federal action and greater public awareness to mitigate the adverse effects of noise on health and well-being.
Is Rhode Island’s Capital Too Loud?
The New York Times recently took a close look at noise pollution in Providence, Rhode Island. This was following calls from the mayor to install noise cameras and fine violators. This is being supported by a small group of residents, called the Providence Noise Project. While some residents are indifferent or resigned to the noise, others, push for enforcement, despite concerns about potential biases and uneven application of noise cameras. The Providence Noise Project, highlighting the documented health risks of noise pollution, aims to shift public perception and policy, similar to past efforts against smoking.
Aircraft Noise Complaints in Australia
If you’re interested in noise from airports, then you should check out the NNI Special Issue on Aircraft Noise published earlier this year. It’s an issue that is certainly not going away – as recently highlighted by Business Insider. They report that nearly half of all aircraft noise complaints in Australia last year were filed by a single person, who complained 20,716 times. This individual lies under a flight path in Western Australia.
Don’t Let Your Good Sound Isolation Go Up in Smoke!
This NCE-USA Webinar discusses how to incorporate acoustic and fire design elements for your building design projects. Many design elements work well for fire and acoustics, however, there are also areas where what works well for fire can be at odds with what works well for acoustics. In this presentation, Mike Raley (Director of Engineering, PAC International) and Evelyn Way (Lead Scientist, Acoustic R&D, Maxxon) discussed acoustic and fire design elements for basic wall and floor/ceiling assemblies and design details like penetrations and assembly intersections.