The Harmful Effects of Noise on Our Health
Our world is filled with an unseen threat that is so prevalent we often overlook its impact on our lifespan. This threat is noise, which not only affects our hearing but is also linked to heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, and even dementia.
Professor Charlotte Clark from St George's, University of London, describes noise as a public health crisis affecting countless individuals daily. Despite its severity, it's a crisis that often goes unspoken.
In my exploration of when noise becomes harmful, I spoke with those whose health has been compromised and sought solutions to our noisy environment. My journey began with Prof Clark in a soundproof lab, where I wore a device to monitor my heart rate and perspiration in response to noise.
You can participate too by using headphones and considering your reactions to five different sounds. The traffic noise from Dhaka, Bangladesh, the world's loudest city, immediately stressed me, raising my heart rate and increasing perspiration.
Prof Clark explains that traffic noise significantly impacts heart health. Only the cheerful sounds of a playground had a calming effect on me, unlike the disruptive noises of barking dogs and late-night parties.
Our bodies react to sound emotionally, with the amygdala in the brain assessing these sounds. This triggers the fight-or-flight response, elevating heart rate and releasing stress hormones. While beneficial in emergencies, prolonged exposure can lead to heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, and type 2 diabetes.
Even during sleep, noise affects us. Despite thinking I adapted to living near an airport, the biology suggests otherwise. Our ears remain active, and our bodies respond to noise even while we sleep.
Noise, often unwanted, comes from various sources like traffic, trains, and planes, as well as social events. I met Coco in Barcelona, who loves her vibrant neighborhood but struggles with constant noise. Her home, meant to be a sanctuary, instead causes stress and health issues.
Researcher Dr. Maria Foraster highlights that in Barcelona alone, traffic noise contributes to 300 heart attacks and 30 deaths annually. Across Europe, noise is linked to 12,000 premature deaths each year and countless cases of disturbed sleep and mental health issues.
Dr. Foraster and I discussed how noise levels above 53 decibels pose health risks, emphasizing the need for quieter environments, especially at night. She compares the health impact of noise to air pollution, noting the challenge in understanding its effects beyond hearing loss.
In Barcelona, efforts to reduce noise include creating pedestrian-friendly "superblocks," though only a few have been implemented. Dr. Natalie Mueller's research suggests these areas could significantly lower noise-related deaths.
In Dhaka, artist Momina Raman Royal protests against the city's noise, aiming to reduce honking. Environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan acknowledges the health risks and is working on noise reduction initiatives.
Finding solutions to noise pollution is complex, but it's crucial to carve out quiet spaces in our lives. As Dr. Masrur Abdul Quader from the Bangladesh University of Professionals puts it, noise is "a silent killer and a slow poison."