Excessive noise is an often-neglected form of environmental pollution. We are constantly bombarded by excessive noise — from leaf blowers and lawn mowers, motorcycles, loud car stereos, barking dogs, helicopters, airplanes, noisy neighbours, car traffic, raucous restaurants, and honking horns.
All this acoustic chaos is very harmful. High noise levels are associated with Tinnitus (ringing of the ears), permanent hearing loss, heart disease, elevated blood pressure, sleep deprivation, headaches, and chronic fatigue.
Excessive noise is also a cause of reduced property values and decreased job and academic performance.
Noise is a climate change issue. Lawn and garden equipment is responsible for around 5% of the nation’s air pollution. Studies show that a petrol-powered leaf blower creates as much nitrogen oxide emissions and volatile organic compounds in one hour as 11 cars being driven for one hour.
Noise is an ecosystem issue. High-intensity sound can induce fear, causing species to abandon their habitat. Birds are having to chirp louder because of the constant din. Since the 1960s, there has been a 16-fold increase in ocean noise, posing a threat to fish, dolphins, and other marine life.
What can be done? Governments should ban petrol-powered leaf blowers and vigorously enforce noise ordinances.