November 10, 2011
This is part of a series of articles that will be published intermittently throughout the year. They are written by HEAG members, but do not represent the opinions of the entire organization.
When you hear the word “pollution,” what types of images flash through your mind? You probably picture a murky river tainted by a nearby factory’s runoff, or a dark gray haze hanging eerily over a city. In short, you are probably visualizing some form of water or air pollution. But there is another kind of pollution that is damaging our environment—pollution that is heard rather than seen.
The EPA defines noise pollution as any “unwanted or disruptive sound that diminishes one’s quality of life.” Some common noise pollutants include heavy traffic, construction sites and large-scale transportation, such as planes, trains and boats. Unsurprisingly, noise pollutants have been proven to adversely affect human health in many ways, including increased blood pressure, heart disease, hearing impairment, sleep disruption and stress-related illness. What one might not consider, however, is the impact that disruptive noise levels have on the environment. Without a doubt, noise pollutants often have an injurious effect on the reproduction and survival of wildlife. According to Michael Bloch of greenlivingtips.com, “noise disturbs feeding and breeding patterns of some animals and has been identified as a contributing factor of the extinction of some species.” Furthermore, military sonar and motor boat noises pose an enormous risk to marine life such as dolphins and whales, which rely on echolocation to navigate the ocean. Noise pollutants do not affect only animals, either—they have been shown to stunt the growth of certain plant species, as well.
Realistically, we cannot completely eliminate noise pollution—after all, buildings need to be built, and people need to travel. We can, however, each consider our individual contributions to our area’s noise pollution and do our part to reduce them. So the next time you’re jamming to Lady Gaga from your stereo (admit it, you do it all the time), consider turning the volume down a few notches (however great of a song “You and I” might be). The world outside—not to mention your dorm mates—will thank you.