Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Thirty years ago the EPA in its
Noise: A Health Problem
referred to early labora-
tory and field studies that found that noise heightened social conflicts both at home
and at work and that people were less likely to help others in a noisy setting [5].
Well-known American psychologist Stanley Milgram noted city dwellers were so
overwhelmed by stimuli as they traversed crowded and noisy streets that they often
behaved in ways that appeared to be less helpful and rude. The reason for this asocial
response; it wasn't rudeness but the desire to get away from the noise [58].
4.9 Lessening the Noise: Legislation, Technology, and Education
4.9.1 The Role of Legislation in Noise Mitigation
Zaner [1] acknowledged that noise had intruded upon the lives of people for
thousands of years [1]. She recognized, as did Karin Bijsterveld that it was the
Industrial Revolution and the rise of cities that accelerated the growth of noise
pollution. One could say that noise pollution was the price society paid for the
advances of modern civilization. Yet, were citizens willing to trade off some peace
and quiet for modern technology? Professor Bijsterveld, in her topic Mechanical
Sound, states that citizens objected to intrusive noises long before industrializa-
tion. Bylaws existed that “targeted singing and shouting on Sundays, barking dogs,
crying vendors, nightly whistling, street music and making noise in the vicinity
of churches, hospitals and other institutions.” She cites ordinances that protected
workers in noisy occupations as well as bylaws against environmental noise that
were passed in England, Antwerp, Bern and Amsterdam long before the twenti-
eth century. People were not willing to accept the noises that accompanied the
growth of cities and did not welcome the added noises that came with advanced
technology [59].
Cities such as New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and London published
city noise surveys in the 1920s and the anti-noise organizations that arose in the
1930s in Europe and the United States used the data from these surveys to sup-
port their requests for anti-noise legislation [59]. Some of their efforts did indeed
lead to legislation that attempted to lessen the surrounding din, e.g., banning of
motor horns at night, and prescribing a muffler to reduce exhaust noise. However,
legislation was no match for the “quantitative increase in traffic” that followed
in the years to come. On the other hand, Bijsterveld notes that there were also
campaigns in New York and London that coupled noise with excitement and
joy [59]. So even seventy years ago, noise and pleasure were linked as they are
today by certain groups, e.g., motorcyclists, who couple noise with excitement and
freedom.
New York City was a leader in identifying noise sources and passing legislation
to deal with these sources as early as the 1930s. However, as the noise increased,
stronger legislation to curb noise was introduced when the New York Noise Control
Code was passed in 1972. This Code, not only attempted to deal with noise from
