What Is Noise Pollution?

Noise pollution is unwanted human-created sound that has the effect of being annoying, distracting, painful, or physically harmful.

It is a public health issue that is adversely affecting the lives of millions of people throughout the world. People continuously exposed to noise experience hearing loss, elevated stress levels, mood swings, hypertension, depression, lost sleep and productivity. In children, it results in slowed learning.

The NoiseOFF Message Board is an active online community where you can connect with others on noise pollution issues. We invite you to join the discussion.

The Green Car Integrity Project
A grassroots effort to address unnecessary vehicle noise and its impact on individuals and communities, public health, and the environment. The goal is to foster a constructive dialog with industry leaders to reduce unnecessary vehicle noise.

Electric Vehicles
Why are automakers and technology companies working to make electric vehicles noisy? There have been many stories in the media about the dangers of quiet cars and pedestrian safety. We reveal the insidious reason why electric cars are being deliberately designed to emit massive noise pollution on an unsuspecting public.

Rumbler Siren
The Rumber is an ear-splitting police siren system that according to its manufacturer, "have the distinct advantage of penetrating and shaking solid materials allowing vehicle operators and nearby pedestrians to FEEL the sound waves, and perhaps even see their effects through a shaking rearview mirror." The NYPD announced their intention to expand the use of the Rumbler siren in New York City. A flyer for download is now available.

Loud Motorcycles
A simple and effective regulatory measure for states and municipalities to control motorcycle noise by utilizing the EPA's dormant "label match-up" program.

More Headlines ť

News Articles

Reuters - Hush that Ferrari! EU turns eye to engine noise
European politicians want to strengthen legislation lowering the allowed noise levels of cars and recommending mandatory artificial noise systems for electric vehicles.

MSN Lifestyle - 12 Surprising Things That Are Making You Tired: Too Much Noise
Noise is stress. "It compromises your quality of life and has damaging physiological effects," says Arline Bronzaft, Ph.D., former professor of psychology at Lehman College at the City University of New York.

AOL Autos - The New Police Siren You Can Actually Feel
While officers think the Howler is an effective device, not everyone thinks it's such a good idea. Noise control groups have voiced their opposition, calling the siren "disorienting."

The Oakland Tribune - Ear aches: Noise pollution rattles nerves, harms health
Droning, piercing, incessant noise. Even at night, cities and suburbs pulse with boom cars, alarms and trains. Part of city living, right? Maybe so, but studies show the ruckus might be getting to us whether we know it or not.

New York Times - Anti-Noise Activists Oppose Sounds for Electric Cars
The ultraquiet Nissan Leaf battery car will produce a synthesized sound to warn blind people and other pedestrians, but the driver can turn it off. The on-off feature has caused some consternation among advocates for the blind. But the very existence of this new addition to the standard traffic cacophony has also raised the hackles of another community - anti-noise activists.

Parade Magazine - Americans Forced to Quiet Down
The increasing volume of American life -- from construction sites, car alarms, and barking dogs to booming stereos -- is leading lawmakers across the country to issue tough new restrictions on how much noise residents can make.

Wall Street Journal - Sounds That Move You
New York police want you to feel their vibrations - and get out of the way. They are six months into an experiment with a new siren that sends woofer-driven sound waves into the chests of passersby and shake cars blocking intersections during emergency runs.

Gotham Gazette - City Turns Deaf Ear to Noisy Neighbors
Over 65,000 people complained to the [New York City] 311 line about noisy neighbors in fiscal year 2009, making it the number one noise complaint in the city. This is four times as many as the next most common complaint, street noise, and ten times the number of complaints about noise from a club or bar. And yet, although the city's vaunted noise code addresses the latter two issues, it offers no provisions to deal with noisy neighbors.

Examiner.com - Hybrid and Electric cars can solve noise pollution, and may be more dangerous for the deaf
Have we become so accustomed to the annoying din of modern traffic that we think it is normal? The [National Federation of the Blind] website includes an article titled "We want cars that sound like cars" which begs the question of what cars are supposed to sound like.

NBC New York / MSNBC - NYPD To Shake Up Streets With Siren-Sound Device
The [New York City Police Department] has installed the Rumbler sirens but not everyone is celebrating the new devices.

The Guardian (UK) - Quiet please
Noise pollution causes sleep disturbance, raises blood pressure and can lead to heart disease. Rebecca Hardy on how to survive in an increasingly noisy Britain.

Wired.com - Ambulances And Cop Cars Ready To Rumble
The technology behind the Rumbler is surprisingly simple and works a lot like those annoying bass-heavy stereos that rattle your windows at 2 a.m.

Salon.com - Stop the noise!
When noise pollution is not making us sick and anxious, it is literally killing us. How do we turn it off?

What Is Noise Pollution?

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