Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the public's awareness of the dangers of noise must be heightened to encourage the
demand for and purchase of quieter products [64]. Before ONAC was essentially
“defunded” in the United States in 1982, it was about initiate a program called “Buy
Quiet.” Although certain products, e.g., refrigerators, air conditioners, have become
quieter in the United States, it was the result of public asking for quiet, not the U.S.
federal government asking companies to quiet their products.
When ONAC was functioning, it had produced excellent booklets and pam-
phlets educating people to the dangers of noise. ONAC had produced a
Public
Education and Information Manual for Noise
in 1980 that was distributed to neigh-
borhood and community-based organization, local governments, schools and the
media. Thirty years ago, the United States had recognized that education was an
important tool in promoting a “less noisy” environment but, unfortunately, the noise
education arm of the EPA no longer exists. Some of these excellent materials pro-
duced by ONAC can be viewed at the website of the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
(http://www.nonoise.org). Today, anti-noise citizen groups have taken on an educa-
tional role by building websites packed with information on noise including health
effects, existing legislation, and ways to alleviate noise. Such groups include the
Noise Pollution Clearinghouse (www.nonoise.org) and Citizens Coalition Against
Noise Pollution (www.noiseoff.org) in the United States, the United Kingdom Noise
Association (www.ukna.org), and the Right to Quiet Society (www.quiet.org) and
Noise Watch (www.noisewatch.netfirm.org) in Canada. These citizen groups reach
beyond their websites because they provide information that is frequently quoted in
the media.
The European Inventory on Noise Mitigation Methods recognizes the importance
of education, information and public awareness [64]. The United States Department
of Transportation [4] reported on the general health effects of transportation noise
in an attempt to educate the public on the dangers of noise. The EPA is now prepar-
ing a paper on Noise and the Adverse Health Effects on Children and possibly
this paper will trigger off additional anti-noise activities at the federal level. The
Toronto Public Health Department is distributing a brochure entitled
Noise and
Children
, focusing on reducing the level of noise in the home and the New York City
Department of Environmental Protection plans to distribute a topic entitled
Listen
to the Raindrops
(author: Arline L. Bronzaft and illustrator: Steven Parton) that
teaches young children about the beauty of good sounds and the dangers of noise
to all the city schools. This topic will be accompanied by a lesson plan on noise
and the effects on health. The Council on the Environment of New York City works
on environmental issues with high school and college students and its educational
curriculum includes lesson plans on noise pollution (www.cency.org).
4.11 Concluding Comments
Noise pollution produces direct and cumulative adverse effects on mental and phys-
ical health and degrades residential, social, working and learning environments.
Noise robs people of an acceptable quality of life. By understanding the adverse
