Noise Pollution By Isabelle Lane MPHP 439 Introduction: Noise is all around us. It is an unavoidable part of our daily lives and has increasingly become a major burden on the quality of lives. Noise pollution is defined as a form of air pollution that is an audible unwanted sound that poses a threat to a person’s health and well-being[1,2]. Noise pollution can be from simple sources such as an air-conditioner, traffic, a loud radio, human conversation, traffic, a dog barking, to more complex machinery such as large trucks and airplanes. There are many vulnerable groups of people who are most affected by noise pollution such as the young, elderly, and the hospitalized. Young children are unable to protect their hearing and rely on their parents to keep them from constant exposure. Similarly, the elderly may not have the capabilities to protect their hearing if they are disabled by mental or physical illness. Patients in the hospital are not safe from the effects of noise as well. Patients who are in the hospital especially for orthopedic surgeries may be exposed to loud instruments during a procedure although they are not protected from it while under anesthesia[6]. Noise has numerous health effects making noise pollution a public health concern although it has not been well addressed. To name a few, these effects include elevated blood pressure, noise-induced hearing loss, sleep disorders, and irritability[1]. In addition, noise pollution also creates a decrease in the performance at work and school[1].Noise is described in terms of loudness (intensity) and pitch (frequency) and noise exposure is measured using a logarithmic decibel (dB) scale[4]. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends hearing protection in the workplace if there is exposure to noise greater than 85 dB for eight hours or more because of the potential of permanent hearing loss[4]. As a reference, below is a chart that lists some common sources of noise taken from an article published in the American Family Physician in 2001[3]. Sound Loudness (dB)Whisper 30-40 Quiet Room 50 Conversation 60 Lawnmower 90 Stereo Headphones 110-120 Rock Concert 110-120 Jet 140 Gunshot 140-170 HEALTH EFFECTS: I. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a type of sensorinueral hearing loss that is second only to age induced hearing loss or presbyacusis[3]. It occurs by exposure torecreational and occupational noise that results in the damage of the hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear[3]. These hair cells are important structures of the inner ear that are responsible for converting sound energy to electrical signals transmitted to the brain[4]. The damage is irreversible once it occurs[4]. Exposure is usually over prolonged periods of time however an intense sound such as an explosion, sometimes referred to as an acoustic trauma, heard at one instance can cause NIHL[3,4]. In general, the amount of noise required to cause permanent damage from chronic exposure is anything equivalent to 10 years or more at a level of 85 dB for more than 8 hours a day[3,5]. In 1998 to 2000, it was estimated that approximately 28 million Americans suffer from hearing loss and almost 10 million Americans suffer from NIHL with the cost estimated to be in the billions of dollars[3,5]. The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that about 22 million Americans between the age of 20 and 69 have hearing loss secondary to noise exposure[5]. Most exposures have been from occupational noise however recreational noise and noise from home have become important sources of exposure. Vulnerable populations are often thought of as workers involved in manufacturing, construction, transportation, agriculture, military, factory, and mining because of their exposure to hazardous noise levels[25,26,27]. Recreational activities such as target shooting, snowmobile or speedboat riding, woodworking, play in a band, listen to loud music or attend frequent rock concerts are examples of activities that increases the risk of NIHL[4,25,28]. Studies are also revealing that young children and young adults are showing signs of NIHL. Communication, cognition, social-emotional development, academics, andfuture careers may all be affected in the young secondary to hearing loss[1]. The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES) revealed that about 15% of US children between the ages 6-19 years have low and high frequency hearing loss[23]. Although NIHL is permanent, it is a 100 percent preventable disease by using ear protection such as earmuffs or earplugs, avoiding a noisy environment, and knowing what the harmful levels of noise are[5]. Mental Health: Latent mental illness is thought be exacerbated and intensified by noise pollution and not believed to be a cause of mental illness[1]. In one study, children who were exposed to noise levels above 55 dB had decreased attention, difficulty with social adaptation, and increased oppositional behavior to others compared to children not exposed to these noise levels[7]. Noise pollution via community noise also causes annoyance and disturbance among those with depression and anxiety and may make their symptoms worse[8]. Other studies have shown an increase in the use of sleeping pills and mental-hospital admission rates with those exposed to unwanted noise[1,8]. It is important to note that studies involving the relationship of mental illness and noise pollution are at best inconclusive because of the many possible confounding factors affecting the results[8,9]. Again, children and the elderly with depression who do not have control over their own hearing protection may be particularly vulnerable to the mental effects of noise pollution[1].Impairment of Task Performance: There are many potential detrimental effects of noise pollution on task performance involving both children and adults. Cognitive task performance at school and at work has been well documented in several studies[1]. However, the task to be performed is usually described to be complex and cognitively demanding[10]. Children exposed to noise in the home or at school may have difficulty with learning, cognitive and language development, and problem solving[1]. A study in London involving 340 children between the ages of 8 and 11 who were exposed to high aircraft noise showed an association with