According to a new European Environmental Agency (EEA) report released on Tuesday, more than 20% of Europeans – more than one in five – are exposed to unhealthy levels of transport noise. When measured against stricter World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, this figure rises to over 30%, or nearly one in three citizens.
“Extremely high noise levels are harmful to human health, the environment, and the economy,” experts say. The report calls for more decisive action at the European and national levels to address the problem.
“An estimated 112 million people across the 31 European countries analyzed are exposed to long-term noise levels from road, rail, and aircraft sources that exceed the thresholds set by European Union directives,” the Agency writes.
Road traffic is identified as the primary source of noise pollution, particularly in densely populated urban areas, where the most significant number of people are affected.
Extensive health impacts
Noise pollution is not only an annoyance; it can cause extensive health impacts. Long-term exposure to transport noise in Europe is linked to a wide range of negative impacts on our health, including cardiovascular diseases, mental illness, diabetes, and even premature death.
According to the report, children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise. Based on new research, noise exposure in children contributes to reading impairment, behavioural problems, and obesity.
Harmful to wildlife on land and in the sea
When compared to other environmental health threats in Europe, transport noise ranks among the top three — just behind air pollution and temperature-related (climatic) factors. Furthermore, it has a greater health impact than better-known risks such as second-hand smoke or lead exposure. Noise pollution also impacts wildlife on land and in the sea.
The Copenhagen-based EU authority warns that “the EU zero-pollution objective to reduce the number of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030 is unlikely to be met without additional measures.”
Preventive measures
More action needs to be taken to tackle the problem at both European and national levels, for example by improving access to quiet and green spaces in cities, the report says, citing data collected in 2021 from 31 EEA member states – the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Furthermore, long-term strategies for urban areas that prioritize preventative measures, such as creating buffer zones between transport corridors and residential areas, or promoting sustainable mobility options like public transport, walking, and cycling, can also be beneficial.
