Imagine living in a world of constant noise where even a moment of peace is shattered by the deafening roar of a passing jet or the blare of trains. This is the reality for many individuals living in cities and suburban areas across the United States, where noise pollution has become a persistent and dangerous health threat. Despite being largely unrecognized, this kind of chronic noise – which can reach 105,000 occurrences a year – has been linked to hypertension, stroke, and heart attacks in more than 100 million Americans.
To better understand the pathology and epidemiology of noise pollution, we spoke with residents in rural Mississippi, New York City, and suburban California and New Jersey while measuring their noise exposure. We also consulted with more than 30 scientists and reviewed thousands of pages of research and policy to examine the impact noise has on the body.
What we found was alarming: chronic noise enters the body through the ears and is relayed to the stress detection center in the brain, known as the amygdala. This chronically activated area triggers a cascade of reactions in the body, including overproduction of cortisol, adrenaline, and other chemicals. Over time, these changes can lead to inflammation, hypertension, plaque buildup in arteries, and increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke.
To make matters worse, noise exposure can also prime the body to overreact, amplifying the negative effects. Even seemingly peaceful rural and suburban communities are not immune to this danger, with sudden blares of passing trains or planes jarring the body in the absence of ambient noise.
So how loud is too loud? Sound is measured on a logarithmic scale of decibels, and exposure to regular noise levels above 53 dB from road traffic or 45 dB from aircraft noise have been linked to adverse health effects by the World Health Organization. Yet, nearly a third of the U.S. population lives in areas exposed to these levels or higher.
As transportation patterns gradually return to normal after the pandemic, it is more important than ever to address the issue of noise pollution and its impact on public health. By working to reduce chronic noise and promoting more peaceful living environments, we can help protect millions of Americans from the harmful effects of noise pollution.
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