Abstract
Environmental noise is currently becoming one of the most dominant types of environmental pollution. The effects of environmental noise closely correlate with quality of life especially regarding the physical and psychological health of inhabitants, social and economic costs, and thus also impacting the sustainable development of a country. Environmental noise management, therefore, is one of the most necessary and exigent aspects of environmental pollution management governance. The management of noise need to be developed in a comprehensive, integrative and cross-sectorial way, and appropriate methods and approaches for the management of overall noise impacts need to be found to deal with them in the most effective and sustainable manner. Taking into account above mentioned, the aim of this research is to study environmental noise management at a national level, taking into account environmental noise management framework in the European Union (hereinafter – EU). Research mostly focuses on new EU member states that joined EU after the year 2000, including Baltic countries. The objectives of this research are as follows: (1) to justify the need for development of environmental noise management, based on theoretical studies of environmental noise as a comprehensive environmental pollution component; (2) to analyze the established practices for noise management in EU in order to identify the best practice examples; (3) to study and analyse problem situations in Latvia that is chosen as an example of new EU member states; (4) to propose improvements for noise management processes at a national level, based on the analysis of the case. In the scope of the study authors analyze existing legislation and the institutional system for environmental noise management, and provide conclusions from Latvian case studies. The research allows providing suggestions for improvements of a noise management at a national level. Latvian case study allows concluding that necessary improvements are related to following processes: development of legislation, noise policy, environmental noise mapping and action planning, environmental noise control and complaints management, data and information collection, analysis and dissemination, as well as environmental impact assessment.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.11.18133
Highlights
Environmental noise is currently second most important types of environmental pollution after air pollution
In the EU-27 countries almost 34 million people are exposed to long-term average traffic noise levels exceeding 50 dB(A) and in average 72% of inhabitants think that noise is an important environmental stressor (European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility, 2013)
The Directive does not set the single approach for setting the environmental noise levels, Member states, taking into account above mentioned factors along with other factors such as territorial planning paradigms and the particular tailormade evaluation on noise sources choose their own approach to the legislation
Summary
Environmental noise is currently second most important types of environmental pollution after air pollution. This includes arousals, awakenings, longer falling-asleep periods, insomnia and other effects. Researches on sleep disturbance indicate a correlation between sleep disturbance, noise sources and noise perception place (Hume et al, 2012; Perron et al, 2016). A study conducted in Oslo showed significant relationships between noise annoyance at night and sleeping problems, as well as strong links between these factors and pseudo neurological complaints (Fyhri & Aasvang, 2010). In cases, when noise levels excess 55 dB(A) during night time, this exposure can cause sleep disturbances, and cardiovascular effects and may increase stroke risk in the elderly (Hume, et al, 2012). The EU requires the minimization of noise level in the areas where it exceeds 50 dBA at night time and 55 dBA daytime
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
