Noise pollution

Abstract

Noise, sometimes referred to as “the unseen pollutant,” is the most inescapable form of pollution — and one which poses a long list of potential health hazards. As the world becomes more urbanized, the use of machine-technology increases, and levels of development become higher and more complex, human exposure to noise increases. One authority estimates that the average noise level in the American city is increasing by 1 dB annually.

Despite the importance and great scale of the problem, geographers generally have ignored the field of noise pollution research, perhaps because specialized equipment is necessary to accumulate the data required for analysis. As a result, most noise pollution research has been performed by traffic engineers, industrial designers and urban planners to solve immediate problems with little regard for more general consideration. This article provides background which may serve as a foundation for future research on this most significant human problem. The emphasis is upon developments in North America, but reference is made at appropriate points, to noise pollution research in Europe, China and elsewhere. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** ABI02038 00003