Sonic Patterns I: The Noise - Soundscape Ecology: Principles, Patterns, Methods and Applications - page 177

Fig. 6.18 Schematic representation of the major adverse health effects of noise according to the
World Health Organization (WHO)

In particular, children who receive wanted or unwanted high doses of sounds
can have hearing losses that affect communication, cognition, social-emotional
development, social behavior, and academic outcomes.
People working in bars, nightclubs, and other places of entertainment are at
risk as are those who work in a marble mine or sawmill.
Special recommendations are devoted to workers who use tools such as a
jackhammer or snowmobile ( 100 dB) to reduce their working time. The

threshold of pain is fixed at 140 dB. Firecrackers and cap pistols can produce
permanent hearing loss.
Interference with communication. When noise is high there are difficulties in
understanding speech and this behavioral limitation has consequences for con-
centration, fatigue, uncertainty, lack of self-confidence, irritation, misunder-
standings, decreased working capacity, disturbed interpersonal relationships,
stress reactions, etc.
Sleep disturbances. A noise dose of 30 dB is sufficient to disturb sleep in most
people. Intermittent noise increases the probability of being awakened. Noise
has several effects on our physiology during the sleeping period: increased blood
pressure, increased heart rate, increased pulse amplitude, vasoconstriction,
changes in respiration, cardiac arrhythmias, and increased involuntary body
movements. Secondary effects during the day after the exposure are fatigue,
depression, and decreased performance. The effects last for the next 24 h overall.
These effects are particularly evident in the elderly, shift workers, persons
vulnerable to physical or mental disorders, and people with sleep disorders.
Low-frequency sounds are more disturbing than high-frequency and louder
sounds.

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