Reduce Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is an
unwanted or disturbing sound
which can interfere with normal activities for humans and wildlife, such as sleeping, conversation, reproduction, communication, or disrupt or diminish one's quality of life. Noise pollution can
negatively impact the body in significant ways, including elevated blood pressure, impaired cognitive functioning, cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects,
cause heart attacks, reduce performance, provoke annoyance responses and changes in social behaviour and other effects of chronic stress. Noise pollution can come from many sources, such as automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft, ships, trucks, buses, jet planes, construction equipment, electrical machinery, lawn mowers and leaf blowers, to name a few. Excessive noise pollution, from the city streets to the oceans' commercial shipping traffic, can have harmful effects on the humans, plants, animals, trees and marine life constantly exposed to it.
Learn more.
Why Mitigate Noise?
Long-term exposure to traffic noise may lead to coronary heart disease and accounts for approximately 210,000 deaths in Europe each year. Learn more.
Discover
'Noise Off Solutions'
to Noise Pollution,
including
Automotive,Building Materials,Consulting Services,Consumer Products,Headphones,Hearing Protection,Industrial Applications,
Interior Windows and Window Treatments
and
Sound Meters.
- Plant a tree, or two - According to the USDA National Agroforestry Center, "Planting "noise buffers" composed of trees and shrubs can reduce noise five to ten decibels (reduces noise approximately 50% to the human ear). To achieve this effect, the species and the planting design must be chosen carefully. Generalized recommendations to reduce noise with rows of trees and shrubs include, planting the noise buffer close to the noise source (rather than close to the area to be protected), planting trees/shrubs as close together as the species will allow and not be overly inhibited and using plants with dense foliage. A diversity tree species, with a range of foliage shapes and sizes within the noise buffer may also improve noise reduction. Foliage of the plants should persist from the ground up. A combination of shrubs and trees may be necessary to achieve this effect. Evergreen varieties that retain their leaves will give better year-round protection. When possible use taller plants. Where the use of tall trees is restricted, use combinations of shorter shrubs and tall grass or similar soft ground cover as opposed to harder paved surfaces." Furthermore, the Arbor Day Foundation offers plenty of resources to help you choose the right trees, like the online Tree Wizard, which gives suggestions based on your locality and needs. Learn more.
- If You Can't Beat the Noise, Create Your Own Beneficial Noise - If you can’t eliminate or escape the noise pollution in your environment or household, you can create a healthier source of noise by replacing stress-inducing environmental sounds with more pleasing, soothing, enjoyable and inspirational ones! You can play your favorite music, listen to nature soundtracks, such as waterfalls, crashing waves and singing birds, playing white noise in the background or even creating your own 'sound spa'. By drowning out distracting and unwelcoming sounds from a noisy environment with your own beneficial sources of noise, you can lessen the impact of the other noise, improve your mood, boost your immunity, calm your physiology or energize yourself. While you’re really trading some sounds for others, the sounds of nature or music are certainly more soothing and better for your health.
- Decorate With and Use Soft Furnishings, such as rugs, carpets and wall hangings, which reduce sound, whereas, hard, non-porous surfaces reflect sound. Learn more.
- Pressure Your Government or City to Begin Regulating Noise - There are many large-scale steps that can be taken to reduce noise pollution, such as improving infrastructure through low-noise road surfaces,road surface maintenance,low-noise tracks for trams,railway and tram depots,noise screens and tunnels,and building insulation and improving traffic management by reducing and enforcing speed limits,humps and cushions,chicanes,redesigning street space,junction design,calming green waves,reducing traffic volume,and placing bans on trucks. Discover More Measures to Tackle Noise.
- Install Double-Paned Windows and Weather Stripping - If you live in a noisy city, near an airport or by rail road tracks, you can reduce the noise pollution entering your home considerably by installing dual-paned windows and weather stripping your home, which also provides added insulation and saves you money by reducing your heating and cooling bills. Install Double-Paned Windows | Weather Strip Your Home
- Turn Off That Television! - A simple flick of a button can rid your home of the constant backdrop noise of television, which can have an effect on you as a distraction, interfere with your concentration while trying to think or do tasks, disturb your sleep and be a potential stressor. According to Purdue University, children from noisier homes suffer the effects of home noise pollution, which include less cognitive growth, delayed language skills, increased anxiety and impaired resilience. Learn more.
- Be a Good Neighbor by being aware of your neighbor's proximity and conscious of your barking dog, loud music, partying, etc.. Hopefully, in return, your neighbor will do the same.
- Practice Meditation, Breathing Exercises and Yoga - Since the effects of noise pollution are primarily due to the body's stress response, you can directly counteract these effects by reversing your body’s physiological changes that come with chronic stress through meditation, breathing exercises and yoga, which also provide a plethora of benefits, both mentally and physically. Meditation is extremely effective in relieving stress because it calms your body's physiology and even helps alter your brain chemistry so that, over time, you are less reactive and more resistant to stress as it happens. Deep breathing exercises can calm your body's physiology in just minutes and can be done anywhere to immediately relieve stress. Yoga helps on many different levels to benefit your health and relieve stress by combining meditation, breathing and exercise as an all-in-one package that leaves noise pollution in the dust.
- Place Padding Under Noisy Equipment,
such as blenders.
- Wear an Ear Protection Device for noisy commutes, inescapable noisy environments or anytime you need some quiet time, but can't seem to get it and don't have your own beneficial source of noise to counteract the unwanted noise. Discover America's #1 Selling and #1 Doctor Recommended Ear Plug Brand
- Reduce Workplace Noise by asking your employer to take steps toward reducing noise pollution and explaining to your employer how even low-level office noise can increase health risks and lower task motivation for workers.
