Contemporary noise control programs in Australia, Brasil, and Japan—An assessment

Abstract

Since the beginning of this decade, a large number of developing as well as industrialized countries of the world have committed a small fraction of their national resources to combat the detrimental impacts of environmental pollution. The control and abatement of environmental and occupational noise levels in many urban communities has been a difficult and sometimes frustrating exercise as it involves planning, development, and implementation of realistic as well as enforceable legislations, regulations, or ordinances. Nonetheless, it is encouraging to note that both the less developed and highly developed (industrialized) nations have made definite contribution towards reduction of the unnecessary, excessive, harmful, and annoying noises. The object of this paper is to review, evaluate, and summarize the current plans and programs to control environmental noise pollution in Australia, Brasil, and Japan. The author has witnessed first hand the strategies used for noise abatement in Brasil and Japan, while he has had detailed discussion with an official responsible for managing noise control programs in Australia. There appears to be a close resemblance in the noise control methodologies utilized in the United States and those in the three countries under consideration. The author believes strongly in developing mutually acceptable programs of scientific, technological, and educational exchange as well as assistance amongst these countries in order to systematically and efficiently control the growing, serious national noise menace.