Noise pollution

As noise (originating from alarm that goes back to italian all'arme " to arms "; well Barney) are referred noise ( sounds ), which by their structure (usually volume ) on the environment (particularly humans) disturbing ( background noise ), distressing or harmful to health act. Whether sounds are consciously perceived as noise depends particularly on the evaluation of sound source by the receiver. Despite acoustic habituation noise may unconsciously continue to act on the body and psyche. Noise can interfere with the biological rhythm (see also day -night rhythm ) and sleep disorders cause or promote.

Noise sometimes arises together with infrasound. This is not perceived by the human ear, it can have similar effects as audible sound.

• 5.1 General
• 5.2 Human ear
• 5.3 Human behavior

• 8.1 See also
• 8.2 Literature
• 8.3 External links
• 8.4 Notes and references

Term

The word noise comes from the Italian all'arme, " to arms! ", And is related to " alarm ". Until the mid-18th century into noise was mainly a term used in the military field, for which inter alia today uncommon compositions such as " noise space " (a place where people were under arms ), " wind noise " and " noise racket " ( trumpeter or drummer who gave the call to collect ) attest. Nearly a century later, the German linguist and lexicographer Johann Christoph Adelung defined the concept of noise as " each one louder sound onerous ". Kurt Tucholsky wrote later: "Noise is the sound of the other. " Today, noise is example defined in legal texts as " unwanted sound " and thus contains a biophysical and medical a subjective component. Thus, for example, sounds of children's playgrounds, depending on the listener very different - be judged - by refusing to pleased.

The term wheel colloquially often used for noise is already assigned to the 19th century in Berlin; he came from the students language, where he presented a harmonized through Endbetonung to foreign words, lautnachahmende education. From Berlin he expanded into other language regions. Synonym to be - probably starting palhe from rotwelschen term (noise ) from the Ruhr and Rhineland across to other regions - the term fuss or Bahei (originally fuss ) in the sense of " much ado about nothing " or " a lot of hoopla surrounding do something " used.

Regarding the word environment include terms such as

• Disturbing the peace, room volume, ambient noise, underwater noise, noise instruments

Perception

The perception of sound as noise and the effect on humans depend both on measurable physical quantities from:

• Sound pressure level: physical measure of the strength of the sound pressure
• Pitch: High tones are perceived differently than deep, unpleasant generally.
• Tonality: increase individual tonal components in noise perceived loudness.
• Impulsiveness: noise with strong level changes such as hammers are perceived as unpleasant as noise with constant or equal to a moderate level.

Progress of measurement technology have made it possible to determine the frequency composition of noise, which is particularly the noise plays a role.

The information content can increase the disturbance of noise, because it excites an increased attention. Although this is not physical size, their presence but objectively determinable. Sound, impulse noise and information content are taken into account in addition to the rest periods in the assessment according to the TA by supplement.

On the other subjective factors are decisive when it comes to the strength of the noise:

• Activity: During the bedtime noise is extremely annoying. The same applies to activities that require high concentration.
• The personal evaluation: sounds that a man may not bothersome even at high volume levels, sounds which we do not like, are already at low volumes as disruptive (eg certain music).
• The social and cultural Rating: For example, church bells are less people called disruptive than a running engine before the house.
• The personal state: Certain chronic or acute diseases are associated with an increased sensitivity to noise: eg depression, meningitis. In epilepsy and eclampsia noise can be a triggering factor for a seizure. Also, the general health condition of a person can affect the sensitivity to noise.

Noise pollution will be spoken when disrupted or disturbed due to an activity occurring noise. Particularly sensitive to noise,

• When the linguistic communication is disturbed; for example, a loud conversation at the next table makes it difficult to listen,
• When providing thought processes, such as memorization of texts or learning children in noisy classrooms,
• If they want to sleep.

Noise can affect language communication, interrupting thoughts that prevent relaxation as well as make it difficult to initiating and maintaining sleep.

Noise sources

Noise can be assigned different generator sources. There are several positive perception of relationships and different noise effects. Depending on the source of the following types can be distinguished from noise:

• Traffic Noise: Road traffic noise, railway noise, aircraft noise,
• Industrial noise and industrial noise,
• Construction noise,
• Neighborhood noise, recreational noise or noise Sport

This list is not complete, but corresponds to the divisions in the German legal system. There are other sources of noise such as ringing of bells, firing ranges, public events, some of which are described in special regulations. In the course of European integration, the term was coined new environmental noise to capture the totality of human perception of various noise sources.

Measurement and Evaluation

Are measured sound events sound level meters. For the classification and evaluation of sound as noise, there are several possibilities. Enforced has in Germany as the unit dB ( A) sound pressure level, said attempts to take into account technical means of the sensitivity of the human ear at certain pitches eg, between 1 and 2 kHz. In addition to the sound pressure level of the noise period, the time of day, the frequency of the composition and the frequency must be considered.

SPL

The basis for the legal assessment of sounds depending on the applicable regulations and standards in Germany the measurement or calculation of the acoustic emission. Since a weighted measurement of sound pressure level, the perceived loudness and the potential damage to hearing back is only imperfectly, be awarded surcharges on the physical level for certain noise characteristics, such as for tonality ( "squeak " ) and impulsive ( " hammering" ). Assessment levels are formed from the physical sound pressure level and the aggregates. The calculation and measurement methods differ, sometimes radically (eg, aircraft noise and road traffic noise). Often annual averages are calculated, from which the noise peak load is no longer recognizable as in the rush hours.

Loudness

Measurement methods for loudness measurement can describe relatively accurately the loudness perception of man. The standards DIN 45631 and ISO 532 B describe methods for loudness measurement. Result of these measurements is the loudness in sone. The sone is a linear measure, a doubling of loudness in sone corresponds to a doubling of perceived loudness. In order to obtain comparable values ​​for level measurement, the result of loudness measurements is also known as - specified volume level in Phon - also logarithmic.

Noise effects

Noise can act on its environment, humans and animals, distressing and damaging. Noise can affect the health of more than hearing, you can not get used to noise Noise is an environmental factor that relates not only to humans, as well as many animals rely on sound signals in their communication itself. Effects were, for example, observed in songbirds in an urban environment.

The World Health Organization determined in a study published in the spring 2011 study noise as the second largest burden of disease magnifying environmental factor ( for air pollution).

Generally

Frequent noise events, for example by aircraft noise, may already constitute a health hazard at much lower sound levels. In 1910, Robert Koch prophesied: " One day the man will have to fight noise as inexorably as cholera and the plague ." Point of the noise is not only primarily the ear, but secondarily also the fault of the household of stress hormones, particularly cortisol and other corticosteroids.

Noise pollution in sleep, such as aircraft noise, is considered particularly critical. How can eventually lead to health hazards night noise even at individual levels from 40 dB (A ) when the individual level differ by more than 3 dB from the noise background. After matching scientific studies an increase of 10 dB is perceived as doubling the volume.

Even with a sound pressure level of 55 dB ( A) noise is increasingly perceived as noise. Keep this on over a longer period, the performance and well -being can be reduced. Noise of 65 to 75 dB (A ) causing stress in the body. This can lead to hypertension ( high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction ( heart attack). Noise can also provide for a reduction of gastric secretion and be the cause of stomach ulcers.

Other consequences of noise exposure are:

• Impairment of being, since noise is perceived as annoying, annoying or disturbing
• Increased risk of accidents by masking warning signals
• Reduction of physical and mental power assets.

The human ear

In continuous sound effects with A-weighted sound pressure levels from 85 dB the human ear is at risk. Interaction noise that strength over longer periods at a man a is to be expected with the development of noise-induced hearing. Work-related limitations of hearing are currently in Germany in the first place of all occupational diseases.

With a sound pressure levels above 110 dB (A) a one-time noise event can already damage hearing (acute acoustic trauma ), especially when the pain threshold is exceeded. The damage depends on the time of exposure and the pitch.

Human behavior

The above-mentioned general effects also have an impact on human behavior:

• At 60 dB ( A) sufferers have to speak loudly.
• With more than 65 dB ( A) external load change residents their behavior, ie they keep windows closed and balconies are no longer used.

Noise Terms

The most common application form of intentional noise Terms are noise instruments in the leisure sector. Especially in Southern Africa known in Europe since the 2010 football World Cup vuvuzela horns are very popular. Many children makes it fun to do just with whistles, ratchets, recorder heads, etc. simply noise.

Noise can also be used intentionally against people. So-called sound cannons can be used as non -lethal means, for example, piracy is used. Even the New York police used LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Devices) at demonstrations. In this case, the assailant is sonicated by means of directional speakers with unbearable for people noise. This noise is characterized by a very unpleasant especially for people frequency spectrum and particularly large sound pressure.

Noise abatement

To avoid noise or counteract him several measures to combat noise or noise protection are employed. In Germany there are a variety of legal regulations at the European level, the Environmental Noise Directive was adopted.

The International Noise Awareness Day is the German version of the International Noise Awareness Day, which is about " day to pay attention to the noise " or "Day of Noise Awareness " means. The International Noise Awareness Day is organized by the German Society of Acoustics and connected throughout Germany with various actions involving possible all age groups should be addressed. So there was, over the years a drawing competition for children, a virtual auditory journey (video or CD) and city guides on the subject. It is held annually in the month of April. All who are concerned with noise protection, protection of peace, good hearing and listening may participate with regional or national actions.

The Federal Environment Agency complained that " noise awareness ", was socially unlike other negative environmental influences hardly pronounced. Hardly anyone renounce activities "to avoid noise."

References