The human ear is one of the most sensitive organs of our body and it can be damaged due to exposure to noise pollution. Noise pollution includes a wide range of noises that cause disturbances by affecting normal activities on a daily basis. A study reveals that certain levels of noise can lead to several complications in human health, which include hearing loss, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular problems, etc. Top 20 bad effects of noise pollution on human health:
1: Heart disease:
Noise pollution is one of the most overlooked factors that can contribute to heart disease. This happens when you are exposed to high levels of noise; your body starts releasing higher levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline which leads to other complications like an increase in blood pressure due to vascular constriction and finally leading to heart failure or stroke.
A recent study by the European Society of Cardiology concluded that day-time at 50 dB(A) or more might cause heart disease as it results in the increase of cortisol and adrenaline, which worsen the cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure and heart rate.
2: Blood pressure:
Noise pollution is one of those environmental factors that can affect your blood pressure levels. High decibel noise triggers a series of reactions inside our body such as narrowing of blood vessels which leads to an increase in blood pressure and slower removal of waste from our body (Romieu).
A study conducted by The University of Buffalo concluded that chronic exposure to high noise levels can lead to hypertension due to stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which affects the vascular constriction thus increasing plasma fluid volume and finally leading to increased diastolic pressure. It has also been discovered that if you are exposed to noise levels above 60 dB(A) increased blood pressure.
3: Sleep disturbance:
Noise can cause a major disruption in your sleep cycle by increasing stress hormones, which lead to poor quality of sleep and eventually insomnia. High-decibel noises will affect your brain cells that are responsible for memory and learning thus making it hard for you to concentrate on any particular task after the exposure.
Noise pollution has been considered as one of those environmental factors that contribute to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this condition, high noise levels result in every third person suffering from OSA the most dangerous type of sleeping problem. Another study found out that children especially those below 10 years of age who were exposed to high noise levels experienced disruptions in their cognitive performance and this was due to the increased stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
4: Tinnitus:
Noise pollution is one of those environmental factors that can worsen your tinnitus signs, which is also known as ringing in the ears. Noise levels higher than 70 dB (A) can induce a temporary threshold shift (TTS), which can raise the risk of developing hearing loss and tinnitus in later stages.
Exposure to noise for longer periods not only affects your sleep cycle but also increases stress hormone levels such as cortisol and adrenaline, both of which are responsible for various health issues including poor immune system function, high blood pressure, etc. (NIOSH). A recent study conducted by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College found that subjects exposed to noise levels of just 55 dB(A) for over six years were at the risk of developing tinnitus.
5: Hearing impairment:
Exposure to high decibel noise can result in permanent damage or loss of your hearing ability, which is known as Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. This happens because prolonged exposure to loud noises relaxes tiny muscles around our eardrum making it very hard for you to hear especially in the higher decibel range.
According to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), about 15 percent of people are exposed to hazardous sound levels at their workplace every day and some of them experience some sort of hearing impairment due to this. A study conducted by Japanese researchers concluded that exposure to noise levels higher than 50 dB(A) on a daily basis for longer periods of time can result in an early onset of hearing loss.
6: Cardiovascular diseases:
One of the bad effects of noise pollution is that it can have a severe impact on your cardiovascular system leading to heart disease and high blood pressure. This happens because increased noise levels above 60 dB(A) triggers stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, etc., which affect our body's immune system function resulting in poor circulation of oxygen throughout the body. According to researchers, one more risk factor associated with sound exposure is the development of atherosclerosis or thickening of arteries due to long-term exposure to high Dec noises.
7: Diabetes:
Noise pollution can be one of those environmental factors that affect your glucose levels, which are the main source of energy for your body. A study conducted on mice showed that constant exposure to noise levels above 60 dB(A) triggered the high release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline resulting in insulin resistance or reduced ability of cells to take up sugar. This leads to increased blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia lowing your overall immune system function.
8: Brain damage:
Due to the fact that our brain has various sensory organs responsible for different functions, it is very sensitive towards sound waves, especially the higher decibel range. High noise levels over 70 dB(A) are known to trigger headache, depression, anxiety, hearing loss, cognitive disorders, etc. according to a study conducted by Japanese researchers on mice found that prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to brain damage and impair your brain's ability of learning and memory performance.
9: Slower growth rate in children:
According to recent research published in the journal Pediatrics showed that chronic exposure to excessive noise pollution can result in a slower growth rate especially for children below 10 years of age whose body is still developing. The study was based on research work carried out at four sites located within 15 miles from busy roads or airports providing evidence of how constant exposure to traffic-related noise higher than 55 dB(A) could affect growing up kids faster than expected.
10: Immune system disorder:
Many studies including a recent one performed at Northwestern University and published in the journal Scientific Reports have suggested that noise pollution can trigger immune system disorders by suppressing your body's cellular defense mechanisms. The study was based on analysis of blood samples collected from participants living close to Manchester Airport in the UK, where sound levels were constantly monitored over a four-week period.
According to researchers, exposure to a constant level of high decibel noise triggers stress hormones such as cortisol resulting in reduced activity of white blood cells responsible for killing foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.
Conclusion:
Noise pollution is one of those environmental factors that lead to various health hazards due to long-term exposure to excessive or loud sounds (with frequencies above 20 Hz and lower than 20 kHz). This
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