By Byrory White Damian Carrington
鈥淣oise pollution is not only an annoyance,鈥 added Peris, who has been affected herself. 鈥淢y God, yes. I鈥檓 very aware of the impacts of noise pollution, and I鈥檓 very sensitive to it. It limits your life.鈥
The report is based on data reported by EEA countries on transport noise, which is the most widespread and significant type of noise pollution. Other kinds, such as loud neighbours and music from bars, are also likely to damage health but are difficult to measure because of their intermittency.
The report found 92 million people across Europe were harmed by road transport noise, 18 million by railway noise and 2.6 million by aircraft noise. Published research on the health impact of noise pollution was used to estimate an annual toll of 66,000 premature deaths, 50,000 cases of cardiovascular diseases and 22,000 cases of type 2 diabetes.
The number of people in Europe affected by noise fell by only 3% between 2017 and 2022, but the researchers said numerous measures could be taken. Cutting speed limits for vehicles in urban areas and boosting the use of low-noise tyres would cut road traffic noise, they said, as would promoting public transport, walking and cycling.
The increasing number of electric cars will reduce noise less than might be expected, the researchers said, because only at lower speeds are engines the key source of noise; at higher speeds, noise from the contact between tyres and the road becomes dominant. Traffic noise is also dominated by a small number of very loud vehicles.
Railway noise could be cut by better maintenance of trains and track, and aircraft noise could be reduced by optimising landing and takeoff patterns and encouraging the introduction of quieter planes.
鈥淣oise pollution is often overlooked, considered just an annoyance of everyday life,鈥 said the EEA鈥檚 executive director, Leena Yl盲-Mononen. One reason for this is that transport noise pollution is chronic, unlike air pollution which has peaks that lead to health alerts and raise awareness.
鈥淗owever, long-term impacts of noise on our health and environment are widespread and significant,鈥 she said. 鈥淐hildren are also particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise, and it鈥檚 a problem all countries need to address urgently.鈥