New Who Guidelines for Community Noise

Abstract

This important document replaces the 1980 Environmental Health Criteria No.12 – Noise. It is destined to become widely used and quoted in relation to environmental noise problems. All who have even a passing involvement in this area must become familiar with it and with its recommended levels. The Report considers noise sources and their measurement, adverse effects on health and noise management, whilst introducing a new set of recommendations and guideline values to take account of changes in knowledge and expectations over the past 20 years. Attention is drawn to inadequacies of equivalent level for intermittent noises, to the need to consider effects of low frequency noise and to the rights of vulnerable sub-groups. The Guide can be viewed in full on the World Health Organisation website – www.who.org

A study on behavioural effects of laboratory rats (albino wistar) after the sub-chronic noise stress

“…Numbers of squares crossed by each animal were counted for 5 min period. 2 The common assessment for anxiety like behavior in Albino Wistar is the elevated plus maze test (EPM). 8 The setup used in this experiment consisted of two open arms crossed with two closed arms.…”

Child Voice and Noise: A Pilot Study of Noise in Day Cares and the Effects on 10 Children's Voice Quality According to Perceptual Evaluation

“…Because, typically, the SPL of normal speech is about 50 dBA at a listener's ears, ambient noise with sound levels of 35 dBA or more reduces the intelligibility of normal speech. 33 The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate the actual noise levels that children are exposed to at the level of the ears during a normal day in a day care setting and (2) to study the effects of a day at the day care on vocal parameters by perceptual evaluation of voice quality.…”

Environmental Noise Exposure and Its Effect on Population Health

“…Rušivým býva nielen hluk z dopravy, ale aj hluk zo zariadení domu, zo susedných bytov a zo zábavných podnikov v blízkom okolí. Nepríjemný býva aj nízkofrekvenčný hluk alebo hluk kombinovaný s vibráciami (44).…”

“…Deti v hlučnejších oblastiach majú zvýšenú aktivitu sympatika, zvýšenú hladinu stresových hormónov a zvýšený pokojový tlak krvi. Nadmerný hluk sa podieľa na zhoršení pracovného výkonu a zvýšenom výskyte chýb a pracovných úrazov (44,40,45).…”