What is noise pollution and how can we reduce it?

Living in noisy cities

As the population grows, the amount of people living in crowded urban areas will also increase. And with 55% of the population currently living in urban areas (which is expected to increase to 68% by 2050), noise pollution poses a real threat to human health and wellbeing.

A survey among citizens of the EU showed that 80% of respondents, around 400 million people, believed that noise affects their health, either to some or to a great extent (WHO, 2018). Factors such as traffic, public transportation, workplaces, machinery, loud music, and electronic devices can all contribute to the noise pollution that exists in highly populated cities.

In fact, noise pollution is responsible for several health problems such as stress, anxiety and hearing loss. In particular, stress can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. Living in urban cities, we are constantly surrounded by noises, which influence our social behaviours with consequences of social isolation and negative feelings like anger or frustration. For all these reasons, it is important to be aware of the noise impact and take safety measures for a proper sound reduction.

When sound becomes "noise"

In order to address noise pollution, it’s important to be aware of different sound levels that can not only affect our ability to concentrate and work, but can also cause damage to our health.

Sounds below 70 dB (decibel) are generally considered safe, but sounds above 85 dB can damage your hearing over time. To put this in perspective, an ambulance siren is 120 dB while popping a toy balloon is 154 dB. Therefore, reoccurring noises such as an alarm clock, city traffic, or even a hairdryer are considered moderate loud sounds with an average of 90 dB.

In addition to dB levels, the duration and frequency of exposure to noises need also to be taken into account. This means that a sound that is not initially perceived as too loud can still have an effect on our mental and physical health.

So how do we reduce noise pollution?

Sometimes it’s not possible to remove the sources of noise pollution altogether. Acoustics solutions such as sound insulation or absorption are therefore the best way to reduce and control undesirable sounds. Health and Safety Executive (UK) recommends, among other methods, to include low noise emission elements during the design plans of buildings and to locate noisy machinery out of certain areas. Selecting soundproof ceilings such as acoustic solutions from Rockfon to diminish sound levels can significantly

• Improve people´s well-being
• Increase productivity at work
• Enhance learning in school
• Reduce recovery time in hospital

At Rockfon we believe that good acoustics goes hand in hand with sustainable products and unique designs. So, reducing noise pollution corresponds to better well-being on multiple levels. The high-quality materials of our acoustic solutions and the expertise of our team ensure a comfortable environment for people in which they can create, focus, rest, heal and thrive.

Source: PUBLIC SILENCE by Architecten Van Mourik