Noise Pollution
"Good neighbours keep their noise to themselves"

The purpose of this article is help raise awareness about NOISE POLLUTION and to stimulate discussion.

NOISE is "unwanted sound"; it is derived from the Latin word "nausea," meaning seasickness. Noise is among the most pervasive pollutants today.
Noise pollution is INCREASING.  It come from road traffic, jet planes, jet skis, refuse trucks, construction equipment, manufacturing processes, shops and supermarkets, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, radio sets, ghetto blasters, to name a few, are among the unwanted sounds that are routinely broadcast into the air.

The problem with noise is not only that it is unwanted, but also that it negatively affects human health and well-being. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction and lost productivity, and a general reduction in the quality of life and the opportunities for tranquillity.

We experience noise in a number of ways. On some occasions, we can be both the cause and the victim of noise, such as when we are operating noisy appliances or equipment. There are also instances when we experience noise generated by others just as people experience second-hand smoke. While in both instances, noises are equally damaging, second-hand noise is much more troubling because it has negative impacts on us and because is put into the environment by others, without our consent.

The air into which second-hand noise is emitted and on which it travels is common to all of us. It belongs to no one person or group, but to everyone. People, businesses, and organisations, therefore, do not have unlimited rights to broadcast noise as they please, as if the effects of noise were limited only to their private property.
On the contrary, they have an obligation to use the common air in ways that are compatible with or do not detract from the wellbeing of other users. 
Neighbours are always conscious that their barbecue smoke can annoy their neighbours and strive to prevent the smoke from intruding on their neighbours air - it can readily be seen if it does -  however those same neighbours will play their radio quite loudly not realising that they have annoyed their neighbours more  - they cannot see the noise intruding on the neighbour's air - but it does!

People, businesses, and organisations that disregard the obligation to not interfere with others' use and enjoyment of the common air by producing noise pollution are, in many ways, acting like a bully in a school. Although perhaps unknowingly, they nevertheless disregard the rights of others and claim for themselves rights that are not theirs. 

"The right of anyone to enjoy the environment of their own home or air space is greater than the right of anyone to play intrusive loud music or to create other noise pollutants".

Neighbour Noise Problems
Noise from neighbours is a common source of nuisance. The main problems are barking dogs, loud music or TV, shouting, banging doors and DIY activities.  Remember that no house or flat is totally soundproof - everyone can expect some noise from neighbours.
Neighbour noise could be disturbing you for any number of reasons:

·         the neighbours are behaving unreasonably, for instance by playing loud music or allowing their dog to bark all day.

·         the neighbours are behaving normally, but sound insulation in your home may not be good enough to cut out the sounds of everyday living.

·         the sensitivity of people to noise and different types of noise varies - sounds that are enjoyable to some people may irritate others.

"One person's MUSIC is another person's NOISE".  

The Base Syndrome.  Modern music and modern music players have brought with them very special noise problems. The CD player or other sound equipment is designed to boost bass frequencies - in any case the younger listeners seem to prefer the music turned up high and on full bass (low frequencies) settings with virtually no treble (high frequencies)- they like to hear the "beat".   The problem is that other people also hear the "beat" but only the beat..  Building Regulations do not allow for the "stopping of low frequency noises" -  these low frequencies can penetrate most types of wall.    This bass sound also travels well - have you ever seen a small car bouncing along a busy road - keeping time with the very loud beat coming from within? ( The driver of such a car is almost certain to develop Tinnitus or other hearing problems). 
What may be identifiable "music" to the person playing it becomes low frequency noise pollution, with no discernable music or tune,  to the person on the other side of the wall.  One negative aspect of modern equipment is the lack of a volume control - or so it would appear.

Shops and Noise
More and more shops and supermarkets are generating noise pollution.   Most people are barred from entering the sports shops, trendy shoe shops, some clothes shops etc.  Each of them have a Noise Curtain that anyone with sensitive hearing dare not pass.  It can even be dangerous to walk past a row of shops in the main street - each shop is dispensing its own brand of noise.  It makes one wonder if the "music" is meant to attract customers or to entertain the staff - sadly it is neither - it chases customers away and kills off the staff.  Neighbouring shops suffer from the base syndrome.

Supermarkets
The noise in supermarkets is growing. 

This noise is created by

• hundreds of people - talking

• dozens of tills - beeping

• greeters - telling us about the latest bargains

• but most of all - by piped music

There was a time when supermarkets believed in MUZAK - this was a planned programme of "background" music designed to manipulate the customers into buying more - playing soft Mantovani type music to make them relax or to make them hurry up near closing time - by playing something quite fast.    The MUZAK programme was selected to be unintrusive and almost unnoticeable!  Nowadays the music is totally unplanned and unsuitable -  especially since most supermarkets are contained in a huge shed type building with extremely bad acoustics.

Take ASDA - they think that the customers should be entertained! ASDA FM is possibly a good programme when recorded in a sound studio - but absolutely horrendous when played in a big shed.  Their DJs insist on choosing their favourite tracks - mostly vocals - we all know that vocals - especially female - in a barn, (however good) always sound as if the singer is being attacked. 

To cap it all - the announcements are in Swahili or some other foreign language - curiously, if you are just under a loudspeaker they sound as if they are in English and you are able to decipher the odd word!. 

The staff in shops and supermarkets are the people who ultimately decide what music they like, what they will play and how loud it should be played. They seem to get terribly bored and require some music to while away the hours that they spend in shelf packing and other pursuits. The music is churned out as if the customers are in a disco and more often the music played is of the "frantic" type.  

 In a straw poll it appears that most customers have the ability to “switch off” and never hear the announcements or the music. Around 15% of the customers had some form of Tinnitus. Of these over 50% were unable to “switch off” and couldn’t tolerate the music coupled with the noise of 500 or more people talking. They suffered from  Hyperacusis – an over-amplification of sounds in the auditory pathways – it makes everyday sounds seem too loud and can cause extreme behaviour.

Among the store staff it was found that the checkout operators always “switched off” but shelf packers welcomed the “music” because it helped to pass the time.

NOTE: 25% (15 million) of the UK population have experienced tinnitus at some stage in their lives, and 6% of the UK population (3.6 million) suffer moderate to severe tinnitus.

One often wonders if the Shops or Supermarkets play the music loud in order to get their money's worth? Because they all have to contribute to a licence issued by the Performing Rights Society.

Performing Rights Society
Established in 1914, the Performing Right Society (PRS) is a non-profit making membership organisation of composers, songwriters, authors and publishers of music of all styles - including classical, pop, jazz and music for films, adverts and TV. The essential function of PRS is to collect and distribute music royalties on behalf of its members.

Background Music
It is often observed by sound professionals that "if you hear the background music - it is too loud".  What they really mean is that background music should never be noticed if it is of the correct type and is played at the correct level. 

My wife and I were regular ASDA customers for over 20 years until they discovered ASDA FM. 

We moved to Tesco but although they were fairly quiet for a time, someone in our local shop must have been headhunted from ASDA -  Tesco are now noisier than ASDA.

However as luck would have it, Morrisons moved into our area about a year ago.  We tried them and have now rediscovered the joys of shopping - without noise!
We also discovered that staff were friendly AND we were treated as customers again. Well done Morrisons!

Can Loud Rock Music Cause Deafness?

Loud music of any kind, not just rock music, can cause temporary and permanent hearing loss.   But constant "pounding" music, and noise that goes on for long periods of time, are common causes of deafness. If a noise is so loud that you have to shout to make yourself heard (which happens a lot when you use machinery in wood or metal class at school or when you go to a concert or disco), there is every chance that the mechanism of the inner ear can be injured.

Temporary hearing loss can happen after you've been exposed to loud noise for only 15 minutes. If you have temporary hearing loss, you won't be able to hear as well as you normally can, and you may have tinnitus.

Permanent hearing loss can happen when someone is exposed to loud noise over and over.  Construction workers and people who work in factories must wear ear protection, because the equipment they use can be extremely loud. But even some lawn mowers and power tools can permanently affect a person's ability to hear high tones and can also give him permanent tinnitus. Listening to very loud music over and over can also have the same effects on a person's hearing. Although headphones on a portable cassette or CD player can be good for other people it can be bad news for the wearer, because if the volume is too high and the headphones are used a lot, the noise can damage the ears.

The best way to avoid hearing loss is to wear ear protection when working with machinery, earplugs when going to a concert. Headphones are OK to wear when you're listening to music; just be sure the volume isn't up too high, and give them a rest every once in a while.

Noise Exposure
Exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing loss. Steady and loud music, loud machines, jet noises, etc. cause hearing loss after a prolonged noise exposure before permanent hearing loss is caused.

Very loud abrupt sounds, such as gunfire, explosions, firecrackers, modern disco music, can cause immediate hearing loss which tend to be more severe and more permanent.  To prevent hearing loss in these cases, always use ear protection (whenever you have sufficient warning!). If a sound causes your ears to ring or feel full, then do not expose yourself to these noises again unless properly protected with ear protection.

Hearing Loss
Since hearing loss is most often a very gradual process, many of its symptoms are subtle. As hearing loss progresses, not all sounds are lost at an equal rate. Most often, the higher frequency (treble) sounds, which contain consonant information, are most affected. Some of the most common symptoms are:

·         Difficulty understanding at public gatherings.

·         Your hearing frustrates you when you converse with family or friends.

·         Straining to hear the TV, radio or telephone.

·         Asking others to repeat themselves.

·         Your social life is hindered.

·         Smiling more and understanding less.

Useful Contacts:

RNID HelpLine
Tel: 0870 60 50 123  Text phone: 0870 60 33 007  Fax: 0171-296 8199  E-mail: helpline@rnid.org.uk

Tinnitus Action
0181 316 6116
e-mail: tinnitus@btinternet.com
web site: www.tinnitus.co.uk