When does traffic noise make you sick?

In road traffic, on rail, in the air, during the day and at night: There are noise levels that are not only annoying but can also be harmful to human health. A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) concludes that noise pollution, particularly from traffic, affects a large number of people. Overall, too little is being done to combat the problem. An overview.

The ear cannot be switched off. It receives sounds at all times of day. More precisely, sound waves that are processed by the auditory cells and sent as signals to the brain. The point at which this is perceived as noise and the point at which it begins to stress the body is highly subjective. The unit of measurement for the intensity of sound in relation to the human ear provides guidance: decibels (A), or dB (A).

People perceive sounds up to 65 decibels as normal. This could be a dripping faucet, a humming refrigerator, quiet radio music, or rustling leaves. A lawnmower already reaches 70 decibels – and prolonged exposure to noise at levels of 80 to 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage. By comparison: a car traveling at 100 km/h at a distance of one meter produces around 90 decibels, a circular saw at 100, and a passenger airplane at seven meters produces 110. This is according to the Council of Environmental Experts.

"Irreversible hearing loss" can be expected after long-term exposure to average sound pressure levels of more than 80 decibels, according to the Bavarian State Office for Health on its website . In addition to direct hearing damage, the EEA also notes that indirect negative effects on human health from noise are to be feared.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set guidelines above 53 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. Exceeding these limits increases the risk of sleep disorders, impaired cognitive development, and stress reactions due to activation of the autonomic nervous system and the hormonal system.

Noise, health, complaints, illnesses

Source: Patan/RND, Source: EEA Report

Physical consequences can also include cardiovascular disease, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, sweating, metabolic disorders, and diabetes. Cognitive performance and concentration may decrease, and the risk of depression and anxiety disorders may increase. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise. This can contribute to reading difficulties, behavioral problems, and obesity.

"These stress reactions can occur largely unconsciously, even during sleep and in people who believe they have become accustomed to noise," says the LGL. In general, the more exposure to environmental noise increases, the greater the risk of adverse effects on human health.

The main source of noise pollution is road traffic, especially in densely populated urban areas. According to the EEA, traffic noise is one of the three main health threats, right behind air pollution and temperature-related factors. Chronic noise pollution from traffic contributes to 66,000 premature deaths annually in Europe, leads to around 50,000 new cases of cardiovascular disease, and 22,000 cases of type 2 diabetes.

According to the EEA, an estimated 22 million people, or 26 percent of the population, in this country have to cope with noise levels above a defined threshold of 55 decibels. Looking only at nighttime exposure, almost 15 million people, or 18 percent of the population, exceeded the 50 decibel threshold. Across the EU, at least one in five people is exposed to long-term noise levels that are harmful to health, according to the EEA.

The subjective perception in Germany is even more drastic: In 2020, the Federal Environment Agency surveyed around 2,000 people in a representative survey about their noise experience. 76 percent of participants stated that they felt disturbed or bothered by road traffic, 43 percent by air traffic, and 34 percent by rail traffic.

There are various measures to better protect people. Low-noise asphalt can be laid on roads, cycling can be encouraged, quiet zones and more green spaces can be established. In Germany, numerous municipalities are drawing up special noise action plans, which are reviewed every five years. According to an EU directive, noise maps must also be created in metropolitan areas with more than 100,000 inhabitants – and these maps are available for public inspection.

The Federal Environment Agency, for example, recommends a speed limit of 30 km/h (20 mph) in cities. Lanes can be reduced in certain areas. Protection from nighttime noise could also be improved – for example, by eliminating regular flight operations between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at densely populated airports.

The European Commission's stated goal: to reduce the number of people suffering from chronic exposure to traffic noise by 30 percent by 2030. In absolute terms, this represents a significant reduction in the number of 5.3 million people within the EU.

However, according to the EEA, the target will be missed unless the pace of change at the European and national levels accelerates significantly. Compared to 2017, the situation has improved only minimally. The number of people severely bothered by traffic noise has decreased by an estimated three percent.