What is a Decibel?
Discussions about noise inevitably make reference to the decibel scale, also known as dB. Let’s find out what it means and why it matters to you.
Noise Reduces Life Expectancy & Hurts Children
Anyone who spends a few minutes on a search engine or an AI chat bot can quickly learn that noise poses serious health risks to a community.
Numerous studies document the health impact of noise: hearing loss, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, mental health disorders, sleep disturbance, and decreased cognitive performance. Children are particularly vulnerable: noise causes learning delays and increases the risk of ADHD, autism and other behavioral disorders.
A research report from the American Public Health Association states:
Chronic noise, even at low levels, can cause annoyance, sleep disruption, and stress that contribute to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, metabolic disturbances, exacerbation of psychological disorders, and premature mortality. Noise interferes with cognition and learning, contributes to behavior problems, and reduces achievement and productivity. The health of more than 100 million Americans is at risk, with children among the most vulnerable. Noise-related costs range in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year.
All children suffer health impacts when exposed to noise, but children already suffering from other conditions are particularly hurt by noise exposure:
Children and those with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, and other conditions may be especially affected.[28,29] Noise has been shown to elevate blood pressure in children,[30] disrupt learning,[31] and contribute to behavioral problems.[32] Children and adults with hearing damage, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and noise-induced developmental disorders are known to have heightened sensitivity to certain types of noise that can result in problems with mental and physical function.[28]
The APHA also emphasized that noise takes it biggest toll on underserved communities, clearly making noise and environmental justice issue:
In the United States and internationally, low-income and minority communities are more likely to be exposed to environmental health hazards, placing them at high risk of poor health and performance outcomes.[22,23] As is the case for air-polluting industries and hazardous waste landfills, sources of noise pollution tend to be located in or close to poorer communities. In the United States, nationwide studies show that exposure to road and air traffic noise is highest in minority and low-income neighborhoods[22] and in public schools serving lower-income and minority students.[24] Poorer preexisting health status of residents in these communities may increase their vulnerability to noise exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes.
