14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers with the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have recently released a new report saying that, although not many are aware of this, exposure to traffic noise can cause serious health problems.
More precisely, these specialists maintain that, for the time being, noise pollution is a major threat to people living in member states of the European Union.
In fact, traffic noise in this part of the world is considered an environmental problem second only to air pollution, which the World Health Organization labeled a leading cause of cancer just last year.
In its report, the Chalmers University of Technology argues that, according to evidence at hand, exposure to noise pollution need be linked to sleep disturbance, stress, annoyance, and depression.
Besides, it appears that traffic noise also has the potential to cause people to experience strokes, cardiac hypertension, and heart attack. Interestingly enough, this form of pollution is also believed to up diabetes risk.
According to these researchers, high officials in the European Union are yet to implement appropriate measures intended to limit the impact of noise pollution on public health across member states.
“In recent years, the scientific basis for assessment has broadened considerably. But the legislation to protect residents of unhealthy noise levels is completely inadequate,” explains TOR Kihlman, Professor Emeritus of Applied Acoustics at Chalmers.
The good news is that, by the looks of it, doing so is very much possible. The only problem is that nobody wants to assume responsibility and try to resolve this issue.
It is believed that, in order to reduce noise pollution in the European Union, high officials need to focus on promoting quiet public transport, pass legislation requiring drivers to reduce speed, and erect building that double as noise barriers.