Tanya Bonner, a professor at St. John’s University, struggles with constant noise in her Washington Heights apartment, often seeking respite in quieter, wealthier neighborhoods. New York City, ranked the noisiest city in the U.S., has severe noise pollution issues, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities and causing significant health problems like heart attacks and exacerbated conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Environmental psychologist Arline Bronzaft, with nearly fifty years of research on noise pollution, has shown its detrimental effects on stress, blood pressure, and overall quality of life. Bronzaft's landmark studies in the 1970s highlighted how noise impacts children's learning, leading to successful noise mitigation measures in schools.

Helicopter noise, largely from non-essential flights, is another major issue in NYC. Melissa Elstein, a wellness instructor, revived Stop The Chop NY/NJ to combat this, advocating for legislative measures to reduce helicopter noise. These flights often disturb waterfront and Brooklyn neighborhoods, many of which are designated environmental justice areas, home to low-income residents of color.

Community efforts, like Bonner's WaHi-Inwood Task Force On Noise, focus on noise abatement strategies without increasing police presence. Solutions include reinstating "don't honk" signs, creating quiet places, and improving public transportation. Bonner also pushes for an updated NYC noise code to address modern noise challenges.

Overall, noise pollution in NYC is a serious public health concern, with ongoing advocacy to mitigate its impact on residents' well-being.

Read the original story here:

https://epicenter-nyc.com/how-noise-pollution-disproportionately-impacts-the-health-of-black-and-latino-communities/