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FAQ

What is noise pollution?

Noise pollution is unwanted or harmful sound created by human activity. It can irritate, distract, or harm physical and mental health. The word noise is linked to the Latin nausea, highlighting how deeply humans associate noise with discomfort.

Aren’t there more important issues than noise pollution?

Noise pollution affects millions of people every day.

For many households, the impact is severe: chronic sleep loss, stress, inability to rest at home, and, in some cases, being forced to move.

It’s often dismissed as a nuisance, but for many people it creates long-term health and quality-of-life problems.

Is noise pollution a health issue?

Yes. Research shows that ongoing exposure to noise pollution contributes to:

• hearing loss
• stress and anxiety
• hypertension
• increased blood pressure
• headaches
• cardiovascular strain

High-frequency noise can permanently damage hearing. Low-frequency noise produces pressure waves that may trigger nausea, agitation, and heart palpitations.

A U.S. Census survey found that millions of households consider environmental noise bothersome or severe enough to want to relocate. Organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institutes of Health recognize noise as a significant public health concern.

Is this just a problem for older people?

No. Marketing has reinforced the stereotype that only older people dislike noise, but research shows that excessive noise affects people of all ages. Infants, children, adults, and seniors are all vulnerable to the physiological effects of chronic noise exposure.

Who supports your work?

People from many backgrounds share concerns about noise. Supporters include individuals of different ages, professions, political views, and cultural or national backgrounds. Noise pollution is a universal issue that affects people just like you.

If someone doesn’t like noise, why don’t they just move?

Noise pollution is widespread.

Even in quieter neighborhoods, a single source—such as a loud vehicle, problematic business, or disruptive neighbor can affect everyone nearby. Moving does not guarantee relief, and many people simply cannot afford to relocate.

Are you against motorcycling?

No. The issue is not motorcycling itself but the use of excessively loud equipment and behavior that disturbs others. Many riders support reasonable sound standards that protect public health and community well-being.

How does the U.S. government regulate noise pollution?

Congress passed the Noise Control Act of 1972, establishing a national policy to protect Americans from harmful noise. The Environmental Protection Agency created the Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC) to oversee federal noise management.

Funding for ONAC ended in 1982, shifting most responsibility to state and local governments. Today, noise regulation varies widely by city or region.

Why is noise pollution such a contentious issue?

People often have different expectations about sound in shared environments. Some view unrestricted noise as a personal right, while others rely on quiet for health, rest, or work.

Industries that generate or depend on high noise levels sometimes resist regulation, claiming it could hurt their business.

Because households experience noise differently, those who live in quieter areas may not understand how harmful it is for others.

Is noise a free speech issue?

No. Free speech does not include the right to make others an involuntary audience through harmful or disruptive noise. Noise limits are a matter of public health and shared community standards, not speech restriction.

Is noise pollution a political issue?

Noise pollution is nonpartisan. It affects people in every community, regardless of political affiliation. While solutions may involve policy and enforcement, noise pollution is fundamentally a public-health issue.

What rights do property owners have to make noise?

Property rights are not absolute. Communities set limits on noise and other activities that can negatively affect neighbors. Just as individuals cannot pollute air or water on their property, they also cannot generate noise that harms others’ health or quality of life.

Can noise pollution be reduced in the future?

Yes, but progress depends on public awareness and community action. When people advocate for better noise codes and consistent enforcement, legislators will adopt policies that protect health and improve quality of life.

Can there be a class-action lawsuit against companies whose products cause noise pollution?

Class-action cases are unlikely because situations differ from person to person.

However, individuals may pursue legal action for specific products or repeated disturbances if they can prove harm, improper use warnings, or other legal standards such as lack of suitability or foreseeability of damage.

Is there a device that can remotely disable a car alarm or boom car?

No. There is currently no legal consumer device capable of disabling a car alarm or vehicle sound system remotely.