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My planet is being put through quite the ringer when it comes to coping with humankind’s ever-evolving needs. 

One of the main areas of concern has to be noise pollution.

ByPurify is passionate about helping you turn your home into a safe, healthy space. 

Keep reading to find out more about noise pollution facts and statistics that will help you transform your home environment…

What’s Noise Pollution?

Noise pollution is an invisible threat. I can’t see it, but it is present, both on the surface and under the sea. 

The term "noise pollution" refers to unwanted or distracting sounds that occur around you, which can come from machines, music, noisy cars, and other things. 

If it's loud or persistent, noise pollution can damage your hearing. 

What’s more

It can also lead to other health problems, including headaches, insomnia, and even high blood pressure. 

It can also stress you out, make you less productive, and lower your quality of life.

Causes of Noise Pollution

There are so many different causes of noise pollution. 

We'll share some of the main causes:

• Traffic noise: Traffic noise is the biggest noise pollution in cities. For example, a car horn produces 90 dB and a car produces 100 dB. 
• Aircraft noise: Fewer airplanes are flying over cities than cars on the road, but the impact is huge. For example, one airplane produces 130 dB.
• Construction site: Buildings and car parks on the road and pavement are very noisy. For example, a pneumatic sound produces 110 dB.
• Food and nightlife: Bars, restaurants and outdoor terraces can be noisy - even in good weather. For example, in most cases, they can produce more than 100 dB. 
• Animals: The noise that animals make may not be noticeable but others may be a tad more annoying. For example, a dog barking can produce about 60 to 80 dB. 

What Are the 2 Types of Noise Pollution?

The 2 types of noise pollution are man-made noise pollution and environmental noise pollution.

Let’s take a closer look.

Man-Made Noise Pollution 

Man-made noise pollution includes many noises that come from man-made noise, such as cars, horns, air traffic, construction, fights, loud music, and other building noises. 

Environmental Noise Pollution

Environmental noise pollution is the noise that occurs due to environmental problems such as earthquakes, thunderstorms, volcanic eruptions, and animal screams.

How Loud is Too Loud?

According to the World Health Organization, sound levels below 70 dB aren’t harmful to living things, regardless of the duration or interruption of exposure¹. 

Exposure for more than 8 hours to constant noise above 85 dB can be dangerous. 

If you work 8 hours a day near a busy road or street, you’re likely to experience traffic noise pollution of around 85 dB.

Solutions to Noise Pollution

International organizations such as the WHO agree that raising awareness about noise pollution is key to defeating this invisible enemy. 

For example: avoid noisy activities, favor alternative means of transport or even use sound insulation devices.

Governments can also take steps to ensure proper noise control and reduce noise pollution. 

For example: protecting certain areas, establishing regulations including preventive and corrective measures, installing sound insulation in new buildings, creating pedestrian zones where traffic is allowed to enter and unload goods at certain times, and replacing traditional asphalt with other good options that can reduce traffic noise. 

Did you know that maintaining cleanliness and organisation not only reduces unnecessary noise from clutter or malfunctioning appliances but also enhances your home’s tranquillity?

Using air purifiers can further manage noise from external pollutants while saving you money.

Discover more about how air purifiers reduce expenses and check out these cleaning influencers for tips on creating a serene, noise-free space.

24 Noise Pollution Facts & Statistics

Now that you have a better idea of what noise pollution is, let’s take a look at 24 noise pollution facts and statistics.

5 Noise Pollution Facts & Statistics Worldwide

1. A 2018 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that people who are noisy for a long time are at risk of developing one or more heart diseases, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. 
2. A similar study found that long-term exposure to road noise may be responsible for 210,000 deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Europe each year, or about 600 deaths per day. 
3. A study by the Sound Agency found that when companies implemented sound insulation technology, there was a 46% increase in the concentration of their employees.
4. Noise pollution affects productivity significantly, and it doesn't take much. Just the sound of a speaker near you while you're working can reduce productivity by up to 66%. 
5. According to a study by City Quiet, New York is the only American city in the top 10 noisiest cities in the world. The top three in the world are Mumbai, India, Kolkata, India and Cairo, Egypt.

7 Surprising Facts & Statistics About Noise Pollution

1. Research published by the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that exposure to high levels of noise during pregnancy can lead to high levels of distress in newborns and may be associated with premature birth and delayed delivery.
2. Exposure to noise in the NICU, the neonatal intensive care unit, can cause cochlear damage and impair the normal growth and development of premature infants. 
3. According to a report from New Scientist, a 24-month study of children living near an airport in Germany showed that the children were depressed for a long time and lacked intelligence.
4. Living in a noisy environment can affect a child's brain development as the constant noise pollution boosts their stress hormones which, in turn, affects their mental well-being.
5. Unnecessary sounds in your home can suppress your child's natural ability to understand sounds. These noises affect the baby's brain and prevent him from learning his mother tongue.
6. A noise reduction of 5 decibels will reduce the risk of high blood pressure by 1.4% and heart disease by 1.8%. The economic value of the year was estimated at $3.9 billion.
7. Nearly 5,000 residents living near Tokyo's military base are owed more than $22 million after living near noise pollution that not only caused discomfort but also lowered blood pressure. 

12 Facts & Statistics About Noise Pollution & Hearing Loss

1. If you’ve been experiencing loud music, traffic noise and loud blasts for a long time, you may lose your ability to hear slowly but surely. 
2. According to Dangerous Decibels, of the 40 million cases of hearing loss that doctors see in America, 10 million of them are caused by noise. 
3. A 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US health agency, found that of all workers exposed to noise, 19% had hearing loss.
4. The Hearing Health Foundation reports that hearing loss is the second most common health problem in the world. 
5. About 10% of US adults, or about 25 million Americans, have experienced tinnitus for at least five minutes in the past year.
6. Men are nearly twice as likely as women to have hearing loss among adults ages 20 to 69.
7. About 1 in 8 workers in the mining and similar industries have hearing loss as a result of their work environment. 
8. A study on the effects of noise pollution in College Park, Georgia, found that this noise disturbs 11% of the population during the day and 4% at night.
9. Your sleep may be affected by constant noise pollution in your work and home environment. 
10. Your emotional problems can also be aggravated by constant noise. Experts say that noise pollution can make you tired, over-anxious and often angry.
11. Getting out of a noisy environment can help your ears recover. 
12. One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from unnecessary noise pollution is to wear earplugs.

8 Effects of Noise Pollution

The 8 effects of noise pollution includehearing problems and physical problems.

Here are the full details about the effects of noise pollution: 

Hearing Problems

Any unwanted sound that my ears aren’t designed to clear can cause problems for the body. 

Human-made noises such as jackhammers, horns, machines, airplanes, and even cars can be too loud for my hearing. 

Take note

Constant exposure to high sound levels can easily lead to damage to my hearing and hearing, causing tinnitus or deafness. 

It also reduces my sensitivity to the sounds that my unconscious ears pick up to control my body tone. 

Productivity

Excessive noise in work areas such as offices, construction sites, bars and even in my homes can affect mental health. 

Research shows that aggressive behavior, sleep disturbances, chronic stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, illness and high blood pressure in humans and animals can be linked to excessive noise. 

The level of stress increases with increasing noise and people tend to be impatient and less patient. 

Improving air quality can also enhance focus and mental well-being, countering the effects of noise pollution. Learn from these top air quality influencers to create a healthier indoor environment.

Physical Problems

Noise pollution can cause headaches, high blood pressure, respiratory disorders, and irritability. 

When exposed to high levels of noise regularly, gastritis, colitis, and even heart attacks can occur.

Cognitive Disorders & Behavior Change

Noise affects people's brain response and ability to concentrate, which can lead to lower performance levels over time. 

Studies have shown that people who live near airports or busy roads generally have more headaches, and take more sleeping pills and tranquilizers.

Sleeping Disruptions

Although in some cases it is completely unavoidable; there are other cases (such as noise from television or appliances) that can be easily avoided by making positive changes in your lifestyle. 

Interestingly, my ears need to rest for 16 hours and even more to hold up to two hours of 100 dB exposure.

Heart Problems

High blood pressure, heart disease, and stress-related heart problems are on the rise.

Studies show that loud noise causes high blood pressure and increases heart rate because it disrupts normal blood circulation. 

Since lowering these costs to a controlled level depends on my understanding of noise pollution, I should be careful about the negative effects and approach these situations with caution.

Communication Problems

High-decibel noise can cause problems and affect free communication between people. 

This may lead to misunderstandings and it may be difficult for you to understand the other person. 

Constant high noise can give you severe headaches and disturb your emotional balance.

Effects on Wildlife

Animals face greater problems than humans from noise pollution because they are dependent on sound. 

Animals develop hearing better than us because their survival depends on it. 

The negative effects of excessive noise start at home including pets reacting more aggressively in a house where there is constant noise.

In addition

They get frustrated easily and face many behavioral problems. 

In the wild, animals can suffer hearing loss, which makes them easy to hunt and leads to a decrease in their population. 

Common Questions

In Conclusion

Noise pollution is a topic that deserves more coverage than it currently receives, and I hope these noise pollution facts and statistics show why.

I all need to become more aware of this silent threat and find ways to reduce my impact.

By partnering with brands like ByPurify, you can rest assured knowing that the environment’s well-being and yours are being put first.