In June, Quiet Communities, an anti-noise advocacy group, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to limit harmful everyday noise. They await a decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on whether they can present their case. If successful, the EPA would need to enforce the Noise Control Act, passed over 50 years ago, to protect public health and the environment from noise pollution.

Initially, federal noise control efforts progressed well after the Noise Control Act of 1972, with the EPA's Office of Noise Abatement and Control studying noise and setting regulations. However, funding was cut during the Reagan administration in 1981, shifting the responsibility to local communities. Since then, the office remains defunded.

Despite efforts like a 2022 ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Washington, D.C., broader national regulations are lacking. Public awareness about the health impacts of noise and potential solutions remains low, according to Charles Elkins, former head of the noise control office.

Research on chronic noise exposure is underfunded, yet studies show significant health impacts, such as increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes from transportation noise. For instance, road traffic noise raises the risk of death from coronary artery disease by about 5% for every 10 dBA increase in noise exposure. The World Health Organization estimates traffic noise in Western Europe causes the loss of 1.6 million healthy life years annually.

The last EPA noise limit recommendations were made in 1974. In 2015, a study estimated that a 5 dB noise reduction could significantly reduce high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, saving an estimated $3.9 billion annually.

Noise pollution disproportionately affects low-income and disadvantaged groups, who are more likely to live near highways, train tracks, and factories. However, major environmental organizations have not prioritized noise pollution due to its lower emotional impact compared to other environmental issues.

Noise researcher Denis Hayes attributes this to funding challenges, as potential donors focus on more prominent environmental issues. Local efforts often lack the financial resources to enforce noise ordinances effectively.

While some, like the author who moved to a quieter location, find personal relief, many hope the court case will compel the EPA to address noise pollution nationwide.

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https://undark.org/2024/06/20/opinion-ignoring-noise-pollution-harms-public-health/