Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is a pollutant that is manageable in moderation. People specifically experience the negative health outcomes of noise when it disrupts their sleep and ability to recover or focus.

The research around noise pollution shows that noise can trigger both the endocrine and autonomic nervous system responses, with sustained activation becoming a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease (source) and particularly coronary heart disease (source). The infrequent plane flying overhead will not be a likely contributor to this risk, but we find that high traffic and proximity to active train stations will.

How noise pollution is an urban planning problem

Noise pollution, unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious effects on human health, wildlife, and environmental quality. Noise pollution is commonly generated inside many industrial facilities and some other workplaces, but it also comes from highway, railway, and airplane traffic and from outdoor construction activities.