News and Resources

Why scientists who study noise pollution are calling for more regulation

The NPR article written by Joanne Silberner, emphasizes the need for stricter noise pollution regulation due to its documented health effects, such as increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Despite the Noise Control Act of 1972, noise regulation has been underfunded and understudied, evident with the closure of the EPA's Office of Noise Abatement and Control in 1981. Quiet Communities recently sued the EPA to encourage enforcement of noise regulations.

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What is the safe noise exposure level to prevent noise-induced hearing loss?

The article by QC’s Daniel Fink in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology discusses the safe noise exposure levels needed to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). It emphasizes that prolonged or excessive noise exposure can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis.

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Quiet! Our Loud World Is Making Us Sick

The Scientific American article discusses the health risks of noise pollution, including heart disease and diabetes, caused by disruptions to sleep and increased stress. Jamie Banks, who founded Quiet Communities to advocate for noise regulation after experiencing excessive landscaping noise, remains hopeful for future federal action to address and regulate harmful noise levels.

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Noise Is the New Secondhand Smoke

Noise is not just a source of annoyance. It is also a public health crisis. Nighttime aviation noise is particularly harmful to your cardiovascular system and sleep hygiene. This episode features Dr. Mathias Basher talking about his ongoing FAA-funded research on sleep and health; Dr. Peter James discussing his just-published research on noise and cardiovascular health; and Quiet Communities founder Dr. Jamie Banks speaking about their efforts to revive the EPA Office of Noise Control and Abatement.

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Public health Marina Jokic Public health Marina Jokic

Fighting noise pollution

The NPR interview addresses noise pollution as a significant health risk, causing issues like heart disease and hypertension. Jamie Banks, founder of Quiet Communities, and Erica Walker discuss its impact, particularly in minority communities, and emphasize the need for better awareness and regulation. While Europe has effective noise-reduction strategies, the U.S. lacks a comprehensive approach. The goal is to promote quiet as essential for health and learning, encouraging communities to mitigate excessive noise.

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Public health Marina Jokic Public health Marina Jokic

Are You Exposed to Too Much Noise? Here’s How to Check.

Noise exposure poses significant health risks, including cardiovascular issues. The New York Times explored these effects, measuring noise levels across the U.S. using professional devices. An online noise map can provide insights, but a more accurate assessment can be done using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app for iOS. This app helps measure personal noise exposure.

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Public health Marina Jokic Public health Marina Jokic

Does Noise Affect Your Life? We Want to Know.

The New York Times is exploring the impact of noise on health and seeking personal stories from readers. The initiative aims to understand how different noise levels affect daily life and long-term well-being. Readers are invited to share their experiences, including noise sources and how they cope. This project aims to uncover the often overlooked threat noise poses to health.

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