The Environment in the City 121
6.5 noiSE Pollution
The problem of urban noise has assumed large dimensions in our times.
Sources of noise have increased by leaps and bounds, resulting in more and
more areas where noise constitutes a serious disturbance. Characteristic
cases are workplaces (factories, building sites, offices), roads, airports,
spaces and means of public transport in general, dwellings where there is
often little possibility of quiet in the daytime or for much of the night, and
entertainment venues, which are often excessively noisy.
Noise is currently one of the most threatening pollutants. It comes
mainly from:
• Vehicle traffic, particularly on motorways, as well as traffic congestion
• Aircraft
• Garbage trucks
• Railways
• Motor-driven recreational water craft
• Construction machinery
• Certain industrial activities
• Barking dogs in residential areas
• Entertainment venues
• Some recreational activities inside and outside homes
It is difficult to set limits in this regard, since disturbance from noise
is largely subjective. Negative effects on certain animal species have also
been noted. Depending on location and activity, people’s tolerance varies
widely. To a large extent becoming inured to noise is a cultural feature of
various societies. There are, however, levels of noise that are unacceptable
and harmful for most people. At any rate, the noise-effect relationship is a
statistical one. Usually two noise limits are proposed: a level that appears
to be endurable to the majority of the population (65–70 dB(Α)) and a
level that is clearly endurable (55–60 dB(A)). For comparison, we give some
typical noise levels in dB(A):
• Auditory threshold (0–10)
• Bedroom (20–30)
• Library (30–40)
• Typical office (50–60)
• Ordinary speech (60–70)
• Motorway (70–80)
• Inside a noisy underground railway (90–100)
• Jet takeoff (110–120)
• Air hammer (120–130)
6.5 noiSE Pollution
The problem of urban noise has assumed large dimensions in our times.
Sources of noise have increased by leaps and bounds, resulting in more and
more areas where noise constitutes a serious disturbance. Characteristic
cases are workplaces (factories, building sites, offices), roads, airports,
spaces and means of public transport in general, dwellings where there is
often little possibility of quiet in the daytime or for much of the night, and
entertainment venues, which are often excessively noisy.
Noise is currently one of the most threatening pollutants. It comes
mainly from:
• Vehicle traffic, particularly on motorways, as well as traffic congestion
• Aircraft
• Garbage trucks
• Railways
• Motor-driven recreational water craft
• Construction machinery
• Certain industrial activities
• Barking dogs in residential areas
• Entertainment venues
• Some recreational activities inside and outside homes
It is difficult to set limits in this regard, since disturbance from noise
is largely subjective. Negative effects on certain animal species have also
been noted. Depending on location and activity, people’s tolerance varies
widely. To a large extent becoming inured to noise is a cultural feature of
various societies. There are, however, levels of noise that are unacceptable
and harmful for most people. At any rate, the noise-effect relationship is a
statistical one. Usually two noise limits are proposed: a level that appears
to be endurable to the majority of the population (65–70 dB(Α)) and a
level that is clearly endurable (55–60 dB(A)). For comparison, we give some
typical noise levels in dB(A):
• Auditory threshold (0–10)
• Bedroom (20–30)
• Library (30–40)
• Typical office (50–60)
• Ordinary speech (60–70)
• Motorway (70–80)
• Inside a noisy underground railway (90–100)
• Jet takeoff (110–120)
• Air hammer (120–130)