11.
Noise Pollution
Authors
The information in this chapter was prepared by Tim Flood, M.D., Medical Director, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Arizona Department of Health.
Introduction
Noise pollution is a degradation of the built and cultural environment.
It has become an increasingly important issue to many Arizonans, especially among those who live near large airports or freeways. Residents near Sky Harbor, for example, have objected to the siting of the third runway because it increases jet noise in their neighborhoods.
Given that the EPA has proposed a sound level of 55 decibels in neighborhoods as protective of public health, and a jet flyover at 1,000 feet is 103 decibels, these residents are being adversely affected.
Residents near freeways and busy streets are similarly exposed to excessive noise, considering that average city traffic noise is 80 decibels.
Several cities in Arizona conduct sound level surveys in connection with aircraft flight paths, while the Arizona Department of Transportation conducts surveys for new freeway construction impacts. However, these data are too limited in scope to apply to the state as a whole.
Other sources of exposure to excessive noise include the use of power tools, mowers, stereo headphones, and home appliances.
Similarly, levels above 85 decibels are frequently encountered in the workplace. At this level of noise, a person would have to shout in order to communicate with someone four feet away.
When the eight-hour time-weighted average exceeds 85 decibels, then the employer should implement a hearing conservation plan at the workplace.
Studies of human volunteers have also tended to support a relationship between noise and diastolic blood pressure elevations in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals.
Noise also disturbs the sleep of residents, but this effect is difficult to quantify. The levels of noise in a non-occupational setting are generally not loud enough to damage hearing.
Conclusion
If noise raises the prevalence of hypertension by 2%, which is the Committee's educated guess for ACERP, there are about 8,944 such cases in Arizona.