Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Feb;122(2):115-9.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.1307272. Epub 2013 Dec 5.

Environmental noise pollution in the United States: developing an effective public health response

Monica S Hammer  1 , Tracy K Swinburn, Richard L Neitzel
Affiliations

Environmental noise pollution in the United States: developing an effective public health response

Monica S Hammer et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a range of adverse health outcomes due to noise exposure, including heart disease and hearing loss. Reducing environmental noise pollution is achievable and consistent with national prevention goals, yet there is no national plan to reduce environmental noise pollution.

Objectives: We aimed to describe some of the most serious health effects associated with noise, summarize exposures from several highly prevalent noise sources based on published estimates as well as extrapolations made using these estimates, and lay out proven mechanisms and strategies to reduce noise by incorporating scientific insight and technological innovations into existing public health infrastructure.

Discussion: We estimated that 104 million individuals had annual LEQ(24) levels > 70 dBA (equivalent to a continuous average exposure level of >70 dBA over 24 hr) in 2013 and were at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Tens of millions more may be at risk of heart disease, and other noise-related health effects. Direct regulation, altering the informational environment, and altering the built environment are the least costly, most logistically feasible, and most effective noise reduction interventions.

Conclusion: Significant public health benefit can be achieved by integrating interventions that reduce environmental noise levels and exposures into the federal public health agenda.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Select effects of noise.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Air Transport Association of America v. Crotti. 389 F. Supp. 58 (N.D. Cal. 1975). District Court, N.D. California 1975
    1. Allen J, Browne M, Woodburn A, Leonardi J. The role of urban consolidation centres in sustainable freight transport. Transport Rev. 2012;32:473–490.
    1. Babisch W, Pershagen G, Selander J, Houthuijs D, Breugelmans O, Cadum E, et al. Noise annoyance—a modifier of the association between noise level and cardiovascular health? Sci Total Environ. 2013;452–453:50–57. - PubMed
    1. Babisch W, Swart W, Houthuijs D, et al. Exposure modifiers of the relationships of transportation noise with high blood pressure and noise annoyance. J Acoust Soc Am. 2012;132(6):3788–3808. - PubMed
    1. Berglund B, Lindvall T, Schwela DH. WHO Guidelines for Community Noise. 1999. Available: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1999/a68672.pdf [accessed 2 January 2014]

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources