Exposure to high levels of noise can
have a number of negative impacts on residents as well as employees at
commercial and industrial properties. These range from increased
levels of annoyance and stress, through to loss of quality of
life at home and at work, through to actual physiological
changes in those impacted included permanent hearing
loss.
Loss of residential quality of life
An increase in
'ambient' or background sound levels can disrupt common
household activities. For example, it can result in the
inability to relax, disturbed sleep patterns, reduced
scholastic performance and impaired ability to engage in
normal speech communication. The stress created by high noise
levels can negatively affect human interaction. Studies have
shown that, when people are placed in environments with high
background noise, they are less willing to help strangers than
when in quieter conditions.
Loss of workplace quality of
life
Noise can negatively impact on
workplaces particularly where activities require high levels
of concentration. Particularly sensitive workplaces include
hospitals, teaching institutions, libraries, old age homes and
creches. High noise levels in these environments may lead to
loss of concentration, reduced productivity and increased
levels of stress. Noise can also impact on safety within the
workplace where levels are high.
Physiological
Changes
Exposure to excessive noise levels
over long periods of time can result in conditions such as
high blood pressure, increased heart rate, elevated stress,
heart disease, vertigo and nausea. It can also result in
permanent hearing loss. Such hearing loss is normally
restricted to industrial staff who are exposed to ongoing high
noise levels in their workplace. Other people who may be at
risk include disc jockeys, patrons frequenting night-clubs and
bus and minibus taxi passengers travelling in vehicles playing
excessively loud music.
