Reduction in the noise pollution within residential environments - what has been achieved so far?

Abstract

Surveys show that noise in its various forms is among the most severe environmental burdens. According to estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO), there is aloss of one million healthy life years per year in Europe due to the effects of environmental noise. This paper discusses the harmful effects of noise with the example of traffic noise, for which the highest number of environmental noise effect studies are available. An increasing number of studies show associations between traffic noise and vascular, metabolic and psychic diseases. Too little is still known about the causal mechanisms, even though a number of explanatory models are available. However, it is clear that today it is no longer a question of whether noise is responsible for extra-aural diseases, but under what conditions and to what extent are the risks.The high degree of noise nuisance shows that more action is needed with regard to noise control policy.Over the past few years, federal, regional and local governments have taken countless initiatives on traffic noise control - for instance, within the framework of action plans. Especially notable are the innovative measures, instruments and programs regarding railway noise. In the most important source of nuisance, road traffic noise, less progress has been made. In air traffic noise, too, the revision and development of important laws are still lacking. To promote inner urban development, the level of protection against industrial and sports noise has been reduced.Significant health-related reductions in noise pollution (except regarding the railways), therefore, cannot be expected in the near future.