Noise Pollution News

Things that go bump in the Night ... or spooky noise pollution.

2013-12-23T13:16:00.000-05:00

Things that go bump in the Night ... or spooky noise pollution.

It’s amazing how you can hear things at night that you never hear during the day.

The house structure creaks and groans ... wind noises from outside ...thuds .... noises with no explanation what so ever ... you are haunted by a ghostly noise pollution

Recently I’ve been plagued with just such a kind of noise pollution..

It’s a low frequency, humming noise that varies in pitch. It’s the rise and fall in pitch that keeps me awake.

Putting on the detective hat, I systematically went through the house ... turning off, one by one, anything that could possibly be the source of this mysterious sound.

But to no avail ... after a month ... the sound is still driving me nuts at night and I’m no closer to figuring out what the source of the noise pollution is.

Finally out of desperation I shut down the main circuit breaker in the house. Now absolutely nothing is running that could produce the noise pollution from within the house ... and yet ... it’s still there.

This piece of knowledge led me to the belief that it must be coming from something nearby but not actually in the house.

In my investigation I found out that the neighbor’s house closest to where I hear this noise has an old freezer in the garage, the garage also is the side that’s closest to my house .... hmmm ... could this be the source? Although I’ve yet to confirm this, it’s the most obvious answer for now.

I have also found from past experience that lower frequency sounds can actually use a structure ... such as a wall, as a sounding board.

Standing outside by the wall, you may not hear anything ... but stand on the other side and hum..hum..hum ... noise pollution.

When eliminating the source is not an option there may be other ways to deal with it, such as masking the noise with noise cancelling devices or white noise generators.

Noise masking techniques could be as simple as introducing soft music, a fan or similar device.

If these options are not for you than the old standby of earplugs are probably your best choice.

Let’s face it, sometimes you can’t eliminate the noise pollution ... so your best approach is to try and contain it.

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Reduce Unwanted Footfall & Impact Noise with New Acoustical Floor Underlayment Products

2013-12-23T13:01:00.000-05:00

Reduce Unwanted Footfall & Impact Noise with New Acoustical Floor Underlayment Products
By: Donnie Williams

Impacta acoustical floor underlayments are a new line of products that provide floor sound isolation solutions for every condition in multi-family residential design. To meet the specified requirement for impact insulations, different systems are required for various types of flooring systems.

Nothing is more frustrating to new homeowners than to discover that the multi-family home (condo, townhouse or apartment) that they just purchased has loud neighbors upstairs or neighbors below them who complain about the amount of noise coming from above. The biggest compliant in these situations is impact noise, such as footfall noise. Nothing is worse than trying to go to sleep or relax and hearing kids or adults running around above you. With the trend of installing more engineered hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile floors instead of carpeting on the rise, this noise problem is becoming even more common.

Another big compliant is that the neighbors above have always had carpeted floors and there were never any noise problems and everyone got along fine, until they pulled out the carpet and put in engineered hardwood floors. Once a comfort level has been established any change to that level can be seen as very dramatic. Engineered hardwood floors, laminate floors and ceramic tile floors obviously transmit much more sound than carpet, because they are hard solid surfaces.

Within the acoustical industry there have always been floor underlayments to help reduce impact noise. However, Acoustical Solutions is one of the first companies to introduce different underlayments for different flooring systems. The Impacta line of acoustical floor underlayments has been specifically designed to offer maximum sound reduction while maintaining a very low or thin profile, so as to not add extra height to the floor. The Prozorb and Cerazorb, to be used under ceramic tile and engineered hardwood floors, are a synthetic cork underlayment that are mold and mildew resistant, economically priced, lightweight and easy to install. The Redupax system is a totally free-floating underlayment system designed to get "luxury" ratings underneath engineered hardwood and laminate floors. The Superfloor product is a commercial carpet underlayment designed to reduce impact noise and extend the life of the carpet.

Impacta floor underlayment products provide proven field and laboratory-tested solutions for floor build-ups in wood frame, metal pan and concrete construction to meet HUD’s Grade I “luxury” and Grade II impact isolation building requirements.

Impacta floor underlayment systems are locally reacting systems that are installed above wood or concrete slab. Impacta soundproofing floor underlayments are ideal for hotels, condominiums, apartments, office buildings, schools, or any area where footfall noise is a concern.

You can view all four acoustical floor underlayment systems at http://www.acousticalsolutions.com

About The Author
Donnie Williams
Acoustical Solutions, Inc.
Sales and Marketing
www.acousticalsolutions.com
dw@acousticalsolutions.com

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Finding Industrial Strength Solutions For Industrial Strength Noise Pollution

2013-12-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

Is noise pollution ringing in your head? Typically when we complain about noise pollution, it involves a congested highway of honking vehicles, or a stereo that our rude neighbors are blasting at insanely late hours at night. However, there’s one type of noise pollution that we seem to address less frequently. That’s workplace noise pollution.

Why do we complain less about workplace noise pollution? That’s probably because noise in the workplace seems natural. We use heavy duty machines to do work, and they make noise. It’s part of the job, right? Well, it’s not that simple. About 3.5 million Australians (about 17% of the population) have experienced some type of permanent hearing loss.

Workplace noise pollution can originate from a wide variety of sources, including machinery, vibrating equipment, traffic, music, and so on. Within time, workplace noise pollution can actually seem normal until the noise halts abruptly. When that happens, it’s possible that you could observe a significant difference in the workplace environment. But it could be too late then.

In fact, noise pollution remains one the largest workplace hazards that are unrecognized. That’s not to say that every Australian worker experiences unhealthy levels of noise pollution. However, workers annually make a substantial number of industrial deafness claims in Australia.

While such hazards often exist in places such as factories, they occur in a broad range of industries, including healthcare and farming. Thus, it’s important to understand the seriousness of noise pollution in the workplace.

Besides the obvious hearing problems that noise pollution can cause, it can cause various other types of physical and psychological stresses. For example, excess noise pollution in the workplace can result in decreased concentration levels. These stresses can subsequently result in various other health problems.

Regardless of the sources of noise pollution in the workplace, it’s vital to minimize the amount, in order to safeguard employees. Not only can such noise impact one’s mind and body, but it can also negatively influence communication in the workplace. And that can create results including lower productivity and accidents.

What are the solutions for excess workplace noise pollution? The law requires Australian companies to adhere to the Code of Practice, which recommends maximum noise levels for Australian work environments. Some of its recommendations for reducing noise pollution in the workplace include:

* Using replacement equipment that produces lower emissions of noise

* Handling sources of excess vibration in engines or machines

* Adding sound-absorbing materials to lower noise emissions

* Using noise-reducing products to lower contact between pieces of metal

* Engaging in necessary lubrication and replacement of bearings

* Verifying that workers correctly install equipment

You should check that the company you work for is adhering to these standards. Although it may be easier to keep quiet now, you may suffer in the long run - long after you've finished employment with the company. The worst thing is that it is you who will have to live with the consequences. And that can mean something as extreme as some permanent hearing loss.

Published At: Isnare.com Free Articles Directory - http://www.isnare.com/

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Dogs and Noise Phobias

2013-12-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

Dogs and Noise Phobias
By Kelly Perry

There are several important things that you need to be aware of when you are raising dogs. One of the things that you want to think carefully about is the idea that when you are raising puppies, working with various phobias that they might have is
something that you want to do. Having a puppy that is scared of things can be tough – but there are some ways to prevent it from happening in the first place. And, even if there are noise phobias that develop with you dogs, there are some things that
you can do to get them over those noise phobias before they become a major problem.

Why Is It a Problem?

When you have a dog that has a noise phobia, you might be wondering what the problem with it might be. Well, if your dog is scared of something that is happening each day, like the television or the vacuum, it can really disrupt life as it goes,
and it can make it really hard for you to get anything done. If your dog is scared of the noises that the car makes, it will be difficult to take your dog in the car, and if your dog is frightening of outside noises, your walks are going to be
problematic.

How to Prevent It

There are plenty of ways that you can prevent noise phobias from becoming a problem for you and for your dog. First of all, remember that everything that you want your dog to be used to and to enjoy should be something that they are exposed to right from the start. Therefore, if you want your dog to not be scared of the television or radio, and to be able to hear the vacuum and the car without freaking out, you need to expose them to these things right away. Remember that you want to be sure you are showing your dog everything that you want them to be accustomed to.

This works with other things as well. If you want your dog to wear dog clothes, for example, you should start having them wear the clothes when they are a puppy. This will prevent them from developing a fear or phobia of it, and it will be easier for you to work with your dog on the things that might bother them.

How to Deal With It

If you have a dog that has a noise phobia, you will want to make sure that you are doing several things to help get them over the phobia as soon as possible. The best way to get a dog over a noise phobia is to introduce them to the noise little by little. If they are scared of the vacuum, run the vacuum around them often until they get used to it. Don't kennel them away from the things that scare them, like the television or radio – instead, play those things at a lower volume until they are used to them.

About the Author: Article by Kelly Perry of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com, your top spot to purchase dog clothes online.
http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-clothes/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=359419&ca=Pets

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The Growing Problem of Noise Pollution

2013-12-23T12:39:00.000-05:00

The Growing Problem of Noise Pollution
By Beverly Saltonstall

In recent years, people have become more aware of how pollution is affecting our health and well being. Noise pollution, however, is often over looked in our efforts to reduce pollution. This isn't because it isn't as important, it is simply a fact that many people do not think about noise pollution.

It is clear that air pollution causes cancer, and the use of lead has caused serious neurological problems, especially in children. But the effects of noise pollution are not a obvious as these other types of pollution. There is mounting evidence
that noise pollution is a serious health problem for both humans and wildlife. But the effects of noise pollution are not as obvious as these other types of pollution. There is no doubt that efforts to reduce noise pollution help to insure a quiet
and peaceful existence for everyone, and for those who are suffering from the effects of noise pollution, prevention is priceless.

The Role of Technology

The role of technology in the prevention of noise pollution is significant. Technology has allowed the development of products and techniques that have lowered noise levels in many areas. One such example is the construction of noise barriers along highways to reduce the noise from heavy traffic. Another example is the creation of alternated traffic patterns that route traffic out of heavily populated areas.

Technology has also allowed for the development of new building designs that reduce noise levels, quieter combustion engines, and techniques to lower noise levels generated from industrial operations. All of this has made our world a quieter place.

Government Standards

Government regulations are in place that limit the amount of noise that can be generated, thus reducing noise pollution. These regulations are created on all levels of government. Many communities have noise ordinances in place that regulated how much noise can be generated. Often times, there are also regulations on how loud stereo's can be played and how long a dog can bark.

OSHA is a major regulation power for businesses and helps protect workers from noise pollution by regulating the use of safety equipment. One of the regulations is that workers in certain areas must wear hearing protection. Businesses are required to see to it that workers comply with these regulation or the business risks being fined by OSHA.

Why is Noise Pollution Control Important?

The prevention of noise pollution is important to the well being of everyone concerned. Noise pollution is not only an aggravation to some; it can lead to serious health issues in other people. People that are exposed to noise pollution can
often exhibit aggression, panic attacks, elevated blood pressure, loss of hearing, and elevated stress levels. When noise levels are loud and consistent, it can trigger these problem and take their toll on the individuals affected.

Recently, there have been frequent news reports of pirates attacking commercial ships throughout the world. Machines that generate extremely loud noises are being directed at the pirates to disorientate them. This is how powerful an effect noise can have on humans and wildlife.

Conclusion

Noise pollution is certainly not as serious a problem as water and air pollution, but that certainly doesn't make it any less important. Many people are suffering needlessly from noise pollution and it is often more than just a nuisance. It must be
taken as a serious problem and methods of controlling and eliminating noise pollution must be considered.

About the Author: Beverly Saltonstall is an environmental writer who is trying to clean up the planet one person at a time. For a free report on easy steps you can take to prevent pollution, visit, http://pollutionwebsite.com/freereport. Be sure and read her book" Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Pollution.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=378776&ca=Society

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Is a Precast Concrete Wall The Best Option For Noise Reduction?

2009-03-11T12:55:00.001-04:00

Is a Precast Concrete Wall The Best Option For Noise Reduction?
By: Craig Lewis

There is an increasing demand for reducing noise within internal areas such as restaurants, homes and office buildings. Believe it or not, the kinds of wall or fence material you use can have a huge impact on whether or not noise is deterred. One of the building type of materials that is subject to many differing perspectives is that of precast concrete.

There are many types of reports that we will be previewing in our new concrete fence wall blog (http://www.artisanprecast.com/concretefencewallsblog/) that have shown that any kind of concrete wall simply echoes the noise and can potentially increase it. However, there has been research that has shown that precast concrete provides the highest sound transmission loss value when compared to other noise wall products. This research has shown that the noise reduction from these barriers requires a considerably smaller footprint compared with earth beams.

One feature of precast concrete is that it can be manufactured and inspected prior to installation, which can reduce yours or a contractor's construction timeline. You will find an extensive selection of textures and finishes with precast concrete and because it is produced in a controlled environment, it is constructed with a high quality and uniformity.

Another benefit of using precast concrete for noise reduction is its responsiveness to corrosive agents. It is designed to and formulated to provide an economical and durable finish. They can easily be adjusted to account for various levels of exposure to corrosive agents such as salt, that way they can react and hold up stronger.

The reason it is capable of adjusting so easily is because precast concrete barriers have a low water-to-cement ratio. By utilizing this low ratio, higher strengths and lower permeability are objectives that can be attained. With air voids within the concrete, there is more opportunity for freezing water to expand. In essence, this minimizes the potential for scaling and deterioration of the concrete.

When researching offline, you will find contradicting arguments over whether or not precast concrete is the optimal material to use for noise reduction. There have been considerable arguments for both cases, but it is hard to go against the research stated above. It is up to you to decide whether or not precast concrete is the best option for noise reduction, and doing further research can better bolster your decision.

About The Author
Craig Lewis is CEO of Artisan Precast, Inc., the innovation and customer-care leader in concrete fence walls (http://www.artisanprecast.com) and high quality fences and installation services to assure the efficient execution of your landscape project. Since 1982, tehirr brands- Woodcrete®, Brickcrete®, Fencestone®, Cedarcrete® and Woodcrete® Rail,- have become widely accepted by architects, landscape designers, engineers, residential, commercial and industrial developers, utility companies, government agencies, and others in the construction industry.

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How To Use White Noise

2009-03-08T10:40:00.004-04:00

How To Use White Noise
By Michael Kirtley

White noise is: A sound containing a blend of all the audible frequencies distributed equally over the range of the frequency band. White noise is analogous to white light which contains all the colors of the rainbow together. The term “white noise” as used in this article will be applied a little looser to include a host of sounds (waterfall, rain and brook as examples) used for blocking out unwanted sounds.

Because white noise contains most sound frequencies, it is commonly used to mask other sounds. If you are in a hotel and voices from the room next-door are leaking into your room, you might turn on a fan to drown out the voices. The fan produces a good approximation of white noise. How does this "white" sound work and why does it mask out other noise?

Here is one way to think about it. Let's say two people are talking at the same time. Your brain can normally pick out one of the two voices and actually listen to it and understand it. If three people are talking simultaneously, your brain can probably still pick out one voice. However, if 1,000 people are talking simultaneously, there is no way that your brain can pick out one voice. It turns out that 1,000 people talking together sounds a lot like white noise. So when you turn on a fan to create white noise, you are essentially creating a source of 1,000 voices. The voice next-door makes it 1,001 voices, and your brain can't pick it out anymore. One thing to keep in mind when using white noise is that more is not always better - it is usually best to use just enough to help mask the offending noise, not completely overwhelm it.

There are three sources of white noise that are commonly used to help mask out annoying sounds: mechanically generated, electronically generated and recordings usually on CD format.

The mechanical devices produce a sound very close to that of a fan. The Sleepmate by Marpac is this type of device and has been around for a long time. This is the most popular type of white noise machine; probably because it produces a sound that we are all familiar with and don’t find unpleasant. One drawback of the mechanical units is that they are limited in volume. Since they produce the sound mechanically, it isn’t possible to simply turn up the volume.

White noise is commonly generated with a digital or electronic sound synthesizing device. Sound designers, with some processing and filtering, can create a multitude of effects such as wind, rain, waterfall or surf. The main consideration when choosing a digital device is if the device loops a recorded clip of sound or synthesizes its own sound. By looping we refer to a few seconds of sound that is digitally recorded and played over and over. They try to match up the end with the beginning but if you listen carefully you can detect where the segment begins - this is irritating to some people. The better digital sound devices actually synthesize the sound instead of playing a recording, therefore no looping.

Compact discs are a popular and inexpensive way (not counting the cost of a stereo system) to bring white noise into your home or office. You can get almost any sound imaginable but the most commonly used are nature sounds like rain, thunder or babbling brooks and nature sounds overlaid with soft music. The advantages of CDs are a high quality sound and low cost. The disadvantage is that, if you are using the sound to help you sleep, the interruption when changing tracks or cycling will often times wake you up. Generally the best uses for CDs are for office privacy, meditation or just relaxing.

About the Author: Michael Kirtley is owner-manager of Nature's Tapestry http://www.naturestapestry.com , a site with information about how to choose a white noise machine. Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=10118&ca=Home+Management

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Sleep Help: Start With Eliminating the Noise!

2009-02-17T21:53:00.004-05:00

Sleep Help: Start With Eliminating the Noise!
By David LeAche

Getting a good nights' sleep is not always easy for some people.

For some of us, it becomes almost chronic in nature and it affects every area of our life. Not only are we robbing ourselves of the sleep that we desperately need at night, making it difficult to get through these long night hours, but it can also make us irritable and lethargic during the day. We need eight solid hours if we are adults or our immune systems start to flag and our physical well being becomes dis-orientated.

If you are having a difficult time dealing with day to day life as a result of not being able to sleep at night, one very good starting point is to eliminate the surrounding noise!

Far too many of us have to deal with noise on a regular basis and it gets to the point where we may not even recognize that it is happening. A good example of this is falling asleep with the television set on, or wearing earphones to listen to music or a talking book. Many of us will say that we need that noise in the
background in order for us to be able to sleep. What some have called “white noise”.

What we don't realize, however, is that the noise of the television set or the sounds from the earphones are actually keeping us from falling into a deep sleep. We may doze and sleep lightly but the later, truly deep sleep, will not take place.

The noise we hear from the television is often just a mask to hide other noise that may be going on in the background. If you want to achieve truly deep sleep and wake feeling rejuvenated, eliminate all of the noise that you possibly can from your home.

This can be a real challenge if you have a family that stays up late, or teenagers that enjoy late night music, or you are on shift work and the day-time noise is loud or there is noise in the same room as you are trying to sleep, such as if somebody is snoring. The only real way for you to get around this is to wear some kind of earplug or headset. You might be surprised to find out that putting some earplugs in on a nightly basis is going to help you to sleep without waking up periodically. If you do this, make sure that you have a backup alarm set which will be able to be heard, even with your earplugs in.

You also need to make the rest of the family aware of your needs. They need to know what is going on and make some sacrifices for those members who are “light sleepers”.

You may need to move your sleeping space to a room further away from the family noise, or to the back of your house away from the road traffic, for example. Fix the dripping down-pipe outside your bedroom, insulate the windows from the neighborhood noise and make sure the phone isn't going to ring.

It may take a little bit of work on your part in order to discover what noises need to be removed from your household but it will all be worth the effort, however, for whenever you finally get the good nights sleep that you need you will feel so much more energetic and fresh the next day.

Help yourself to get a good nights sleep by eliminating the local noise first!

About the Author: Dave is author of http://www.sleep-help-4u.com where you can find more information and suggestions about dealing with a variety of sleep disorders. Get a FREE sleep-help on-line book just for sending in your sleep suggestions and remedies at http://www.sleep-help-4u.com/sleep-remedy.html
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What is Noise Pollution?

2008-11-14T15:17:00.001-05:00

What is Noise Pollution?

Noise pollution is any sound which you can hear, consciously, or even unconsciously.

Noise pollution is here, it’s all around us, all the time. We live with noise pollution 24/7.

Noise pollution comes from many sources. Each of us contributes by creating noise pollution in many different forms.

Noise pollution adds to stress and increases health risks. Our work suffers, and we lose sleep because of noise pollution.

The list for sources of noise pollution is virtually endless – traffic, airplanes, stereos, televisions, machinery, cell phones, dogs, conversations, and yes – even nature itself is a source with wind, rain, thunder, animals, etc.

As noise pollution goes up, the quality of life goes down.

So what can we do to reduce or eliminate noise pollution in our daily lives?

There are two basic approaches to reducing noise pollution. First, reduce or eliminate the source of the noise pollution. Second, if we can’t control the noise pollution source, then we have to insulate ourselves from it in some manner.

Which approach you take is determined by the situation. Sometimes you may have to use both in order to get satisfactory results.

Example: The barking dog. Okay, almost everyone has experienced this form of noise pollution. Very annoying. Approach one generally works best for this scenario. Eliminate the source. Talk to the owner. All too often we passively allow people at the source of the noise pollution to continue because no one ever speaks up. Just remember, talk nice, and the person is less likely to get defensive or get annoyed, you may be surprised at the results. But definitely speak to them. Beyond that, you may need to use whatever resources are at you disposal, Solicit the help other neighbors, use local ordinance enforcement, your condo association if applicable, etc.

Every noise pollution situation will require its own unique a solution, but the rewards will be worth it. So get out there and start fighting the fight against noise pollution. Start by just looking at what’s around you. Turn off unused TV’s, radios, clean fans and appliances. Oil squeaky doors and hinges. Just look around, small changes can make big differences over time.

You’ll make a better world for us all … you, me, children, all of us.

Thanks and God bless …..

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Noise Pollution Robs Kids of Language Skills

2008-10-20T09:59:00.001-04:00

Noise Pollution Robs Kids of Language Skills
Source: New Scientist magazine, issue #2081

CHILDREN who live in noisy areas have poorer reading skills than those in quieter areas. Now researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, are suggesting that this is because they find it harder to recognize and understand human speech.

In the first study to explain how noise and reading ability are linked, Gary Evans and Lorraine Maxwell compared 58 seven and eight-year-olds from a school which lies in the flight path of one of New York City's airports with 50 children of the same age from a quiet neighborhood.

They gave the children a variety of reading and hearing tests. For example, the children had to identify certain words in a list, read out nonsense words to show their grasp of consonant-vowel combinations and identify recorded words that were partially obscured by static. All the tests were carried out in a quiet place.

As expected, the children from the noisy neighborhood had poorer reading skills. But the researchers also found that those children found it harder to recognize and understand spoken words. They conclude that in order to cope with the din, the children near the airport cut down the burden of noise they were being subjected to by "filtering out" certain sounds which include human speech.

Because reading skills are in part acquired by listening to others, ignoring speech hampers their development. Researchers believe that by listening to speech, children learn to distinguish phonemes, the distinct sounds that work together to make up a word—such as the three phonemes which make up the word "cat". Once children have developed this ability from listening to speech, they can apply it to text.

Arline Bronzaft, a noise specialist at the City University of New York, says the researchers' findings would probably apply to schools near any large airport. "It doesn't matter where you are—London, the Netherlands or Los Angeles—this study is very significant," she says, because of the link that it establishes between noise exposure and language development.

The research, to be published in the journal Environment and Behavior, could provide new ammunition to groups that want to strengthen restrictions on noise from airports and other sites. Supporters of more stringent noise restrictions have had difficulty proving that noise really is harmful, and the Cornell study will give them a big boost, says Bronzaft.

However, several previous studies, by Evans and others, have found evidence of high blood pressure and levels of the hormone adrenaline, which is linked to stress, in people exposed to noise for long periods.

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Workplace safety - noise pollution

2008-10-03T14:27:00.005-04:00

Workplace safety - noise pollution
Source: Better Health Channel

Excessive noise levels over a long period of time will damage your hearing. This may happen so gradually and painlessly that you may not notice the minor deterioration from one day to the next. Excessive noise in the workplace presents a risk of hearing damage and other health problems.

The parts of the ear that process high frequency sounds are usually the first to be affected. The degree of hearing loss depends on the loudness of the noise and your level of exposure. Sudden explosive sounds, such as gunshots, can cause immediate damage.

Some people exposed to excessive noise develop tinnitus, which is described as a constant ringing sound. For most cases of noise-induced hearing loss, there is no cure. Hearing aids only amplify sounds and can’t replace normal hearing.

Associated effects of constant noise
Apart from damage to hearing, exposure to constant and excessive noise can cause other health problems including:
• Headache
• Elevated blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Digestive disorders
• Increased susceptibility to colds and other minor infections.

The workings of the ear
The vibration of air molecules makes up a sound wave. Low frequency sounds have waves that are far apart, while high frequency sounds have waves that are bunched together.

Sound waves are funneled from the outer ear into the middle ear, where they vibrate the eardrum. The three tiny bones lying on the other side of the eardrum pick up the vibration and pass it on to the inner ear.

The vibration is picked up in the inner ear by a small, spiral shaped organ called the cochlea. Hairs on the cochlea sense the vibration and pass on the message to the brain via the cochlear nerve. These sensitive hairs are bent, damaged and broken by excessive noise. The resulting scar tissue can’t conduct sound. The parts of the ear that process high frequency sounds are usually the first to be affected.

Dangerous decibels
The loudness of noise is measured in decibels. Sensitivity to noise differs from one individual to the next, but experts believe that damage to hearing occurs when noise levels are higher than 85 decibels, which is about the loudness of heavy traffic.

The risk of hearing loss increases as the noise becomes louder. Length of exposure is important too. For example, it is not recommended to listen to noises of 109 decibels for any longer than two minutes at a time.

If you have to raise your voice or shout to be heard, or if your ears ring or sounds seem muffled afterwards, then the noise level was too loud and harmful.

Reducing noise exposure in the workplace
Noise levels can be measured using a sound level meter, which detects the pressure of sound waves as they move through the air.

Reducing exposure to excessive noise in the workplace can be accomplished in many different ways:
• Change or modify equipment.
• Locate the equipment in a more isolated area, or soundproof the room.
• Make sure that people spend time working in quiet areas too.
• Try to run noisy equipment early or late in the day when fewer people will be exposed.
• Use personal hearing protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs.

Ongoing monitoring
Occupational health and safety officers can offer advice and information on reducing noise in the workplace. Noise levels should be regularly monitored and work practices continuously improved to preserve the hearing of workers. Companies can offer annual hearing tests to their employees.

Once hearing is damaged, it can’t be restored. See your doctor immediately if you suspect any noise-induced hearing loss.

Where to get help
• Your manager or supervisor
• Your elected Health and Safety Representative and your workplace occupational health and safety coordinator
• Your doctor
• Your union.

Things to remember
• Damage to hearing occurs when noise levels are higher than 85decibels, which is about the loudness of heavy traffic.
• The degree of loss depends on the loudness of the noise and your level of exposure.
• Once hearing is damaged, it can’t be restored.

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Noise pollution and the Church

2008-09-24T11:00:00.001-04:00

Noise pollution and the Church
Source: Internet posting

An Italian priest has been ordered to pay €60,000 (£49,000) in damages because the bells of his church were too loud, and were rung for too long at "unsocial hours".

The judgement, handed down by a court in the town of Chiavari, has widespread implications for what is often seen as Europe's most Catholic nation, and perhaps the country with the highest density of churches. The case brought by a retired university teacher, Flora Leuzzi, is one of several alleging that over-enthusiastic tolling constitutes noise pollution.

Professor Leuzzi, who lives close to the Carmine church in Lavagna, near Genoa, began her campaign against its belfry 13 years ago. The judge found that the sound it emitted was louder than average. He also agreed that Leuzzi's hearing had been marginally impaired.

This was a courageous move on Professor Leuzzi's part. Why should everyone in the vicinity of a church have to endure prolonged bell ringing? In some cases the decibel level can get up into the 80's.

Bell ringing is really a form of Christian triumphalism, announcing to all within earshot that god is on his throne and all proceeding according to some alleged divine plan. This isn't a message an atheist, agnostic or those of religions other than Christianity are interested in having boomed into their living rooms.

Professor Leuzzi isn't the first to be angered by church related noise pollution. A Times article provides a few other examples:

A resident of Bétera in Valencia launched legal action against the local priest because the church bells rang 72 times a day. He said that he suffered insomnia and had to seek psychiatric treatment.

Another resident of San Sebastian in La Gomera, the Canary Islands, played heavy metal music at top volume outside the church to protest at the noise of the bells.

One council, in Baza, near Granada, fined the local church €600 (£440) for the noise caused by the church bells.

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The Science of Noise Pollution

2008-08-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

The Science of Noise Pollution

The term ‘noise’ is also another word for ‘sound’ but generally used when the noise becomes objectionable. Obviously many sounds are pleasant to the ears. It’s when the sound is irritating we call it noise pollution.

Adding to this is that each of us have different sensitivity levels to noise. Even the specific frequency of the sound can affect how we perceive sounds.

In addition, the time and the situation can determine whether or not a sound is to be considered as objectionable noise pollution.

Music, a chirping bird, or even just the wind through the trees though pleasant during the day can become objectionable at night when we are trying to sleep. In the quiet of the night even the slightest noises are amplified.

Another example is when we are trying to focus our thoughts, such as in a library. Everyday sounds can be very distracting and become noise pollution when we are attempting to concentrate.

More than being just irritating, noise pollution can affect our health and well being. Because this is an extensive subject, and a serious side of noise pollution, it will not be addressed here in any detail. If necessary seek out a qualified professional to help if you feel your health is being affected. Do not dismiss the importance of this dark side of noise pollution.

Generally, noise pollution can be attacked two different ways. The first is to identify the source and then reduce or eliminate it. It second is to isolate us from the objectionable noise.

Which method used must be determined on a case by case basis. In some instances, it many require use of both approaches to get satisfactory results.

My preference is always to first try and eliminate the offending noise at the source. When the noise source cannot be removed or reduced to acceptable levels, there is a wealth of products to help, from simple earplugs to noise canceling headphones.

There’s building products designed specifically to eliminate or reduce noise, and even white noise generators which help to mask the offending noise.

Links to some of these products can be found on this site. If you don’t immediately see what you are looking for, a quick search will get you a wealth of ideas and products to check out.

Author: Noise Pollution News (YourGuyJoe) Copyright@July 2008

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The Definition of Noise Pollution

2008-08-21T09:53:00.002-04:00

The Definition of Noise Pollution

The reality is that there is not a black and white answer to what can be defined as noise pollution.

This is because when it comes to noise pollution there are other factors to take into consideration. Some primarily considerations are time and situation.

Some noise pollution examples are;

The sound of birds chirping .... pleasant right? .... well, at 5:30 AM which is when they usually start by me ... not so pleasant at that time .... noise pollution?

Enjoying a party, music, dancing, laughing, talking ... great fun right? ... well not if you’re the next door neighbor and you’ve got to be up early for work the next morning ... noise pollution?

Okay, one more example;

A couple sitting nearby, speaking softly to each another .... most times this wouldn’t be thought of as noise pollution, right? ... but what if you’re studying for final exams in a library ... or listening intently to a movie ... or in church ... or at a funeral service .... noise pollution? ...wow, the situation really makes all the difference, doesn’t it.

So to define or classify something as noise pollution .... generally stated, any noise, of any volume which could be deemed irritating or inappropriate because of the time and circumstances.

But definitely, any noise which can have negative effect on someone’s hearing, health, or well being would be classified as noise pollution.

Please check out the other posts on this site, if you don’t immediately see what you are looking for, a quick search will get you a wealth of ideas and products to check out.

Author: Noise Pollution News (YourGuyJoe) Copyright@August 2008

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TV Background Noise Disrupts Child Play

2008-07-23T19:07:00.001-04:00

TV Background Noise Disrupts Child Play
Source: The New York Times

Many parents watch the news or other shows as children play nearby.

But new research shows that even when the television is just background noise, it may be disruptive to a child’s normal development.

It’s estimated that 75 percent of very young children in the United States live in homes where the television is on most of the time, even though the kids often aren’t watching it.

University of Massachusetts researchers recently studied how TV background noise might affect young children.

The study, published in the current issue of the journal Child Development, looked at 50 1, 2 and 3 year olds.

Each child came to a lab with a parent and was allowed to play for an hour with various toys. For half the time, a television was on in the room, showing an episode of the adult game show Jeopardy! as well as commercials. During the other half hour, the TV was turned off.

As expected, the children paid little attention to the adult television show, glancing at it for less than a few seconds at a time, and less than once a minute.
Even so, the distraction of the background noise had a significant effect on how children at every age played.

When the television was on, the children played with each toy for significantly shorter periods of time, and focused attention during play was also shorter compared to how they played when the TV was off.

Researchers said that even though the children weren’t interested in the show, background TV is an “ever-changing audiovisual distractor'’ that disrupts their ability to sustain various types of play.

The finding is important because many well-meaning parents who wouldn’t let their young children watch television may not realize that even adult programs that don’t interest children still can have an effect.

“Background TV is potentially a chronic environmental risk factor affecting most American children,'’ said Marie Evans Schmidt, a research associate at the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital in Boston and lead author of the study. “Parents should limit their young children’s exposure.”

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Eliminate Noise To Reduce Stress

2008-05-12T12:24:00.001-04:00

Eliminate Noise To Reduce Stress
By Lee Blue

Stress is a fact of life that most of us have learned to accept and grown accustomed to enduring in our busy lives. But minimizing noise, an element that often compounds stress, can lead to better concentration, increased productivity and can reduce your overall stress level.

There are many types of audio and visual noise that can cause distractions that break concentration and increase stress. There’s the noise of traffic and conversations when we’re walking down the street, but then there’s the subtle everyday noises of our homes and offices that can easily distract us: doors shutting, the television playing, conversations in the next cube, phones ringing, fingers tapping on the keyboard. A study conducted by Cornell University found that office workers exposed to constant noise showed physiological signs of stress, even though they did not report feeling stressed at all. Not only does the noise distract you, but it can be stressing you and you don’t even realize it.

While we can’t necessarily control the fact that the noises exist, there are ways to minimize or eliminate these noises from infiltrating our personal space.

And when outside and background noise is minimized or eliminated, the result can be a noticeably positive change in human productivity. A study by the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise revealed that when the outside noise of airplanes flying over a school was reduced, test scores among high school students increased by 12%. Now, airplanes are a dramatic example of noise, but the evidence shown in the study speaks for itself – reduction in noise reduces distractions, increases productivity.

Here are some suggestions to reduce the sources of noise and stress in your life.

Check Your Environment – When you sit down to complete a task that requires your full attention, and you find yourself easily distracted, take a look around – is your office disorganized, have a décor that encourages a lack of concentration, or is the furniture arranged in a way that encourages distraction? For example, if your desk faces a window that overlooks a busy street, maybe you should turn your desk in another direction. How does your space or office feel? If the colors and décor are too loud and busy with bright colors, patterns and designs, it may be time for a makeover to tone it down a bit if the space is constantly distracting, rather than inspiring, you. On the other end of the spectrum, if your office décor has muted tones and bare walls, you may need to spruce it up a bit to make your office more interesting. Lastly, clutter is an unappreciated distraction for many of us. If your desk is buried under piles of old files and junk mail, your mind can easily trail off to thinking about what’s in the pile instead of being focused on the task at hand.

Tune the Noise Out – Even after making sure there are no distractions in your own personal space, you still face the noise of others. Especially for many of us who work in open offices with cubicles, something as small as a quiet conversation between two coworkers can destroy our concentration. Earplugs are an option, but are limited in their ability to truly turn off the outside noise in your environment.

A set of headphones, such as the EX29 Extreme Isolation Noise Reduction Headphones, can completely tune out the noise. Unlike noise cancellation headphones that attempt to balance the noise coming into the headphones to the noise outside of the headphones to create quiet, noise reduction headphones go a step further and block outside noise. In addition to blocking out distracting noises to help increase concentration, the EX29 Extreme Isolation headphones do not need batteries and you can wear them for hours without fatigue. If you use them to listen to music, you do not have to raise the volume to override outside noise – instead, you will be able to enjoy the intricate nuances of your favorite music.

Get Your Downward Dog On – A routine yoga practice can reduce the “noise in your head” so that when you do sit down to concentrate, you won’t be distracted by the noise between your ears. There are several different types of Yoga for various fitness levels, and with the focus on breathing to ease the flow of oxygen throughout the body, most people notice a significant difference in stress levels from their very first Yoga session.

There are many medical research reports to support the health benefits of the exercise done in Yoga, and many Yogis claim success in gaining an ability to focus on the present moment, making them more productive and less stressed than non-Yogis.

Research from sources such as Cornell University, Yale University, University College London, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health point to a link between noise and stress. While there are many other ways to reduce the stress in your life, the above suggestions are a prescription to minimizing the noise and stress that you inevitably face everyday.

About the Author: Lee Blue is an avid musician, composer, and home studio recording artist. He uses Extreme Isolation headphones in his recording studio as well as his office during work to block out distractions. Learn more about noise reducing headphones at http://www.quietheadphones.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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Pod Hearing Hazards - How To Take Care Of Your Ears

2008-05-10T09:07:00.000-04:00

Pod Hearing Hazards - How To Take Care Of Your Ears
by jasonjcox

Many people have been suffering from hearing problems since the introduction of iPod and other portable music devices. One of the reasons that the iPod stands out among its competitors is that it is one of the loudest portable music players available right now.

The loudness also becomes a vice as people use iPods music capabilities to its full extent, paying little or no attention to the effects frequent loud music can have on their hearing.

If you frequently listen to your iPod at a high volume it can cause Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. The effects of noise-induced hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. The symptoms increase when a person is frequently exposed to loud noises for a long period of time. Prevention is the only cure for noise-induced hearing loss. Here are a few tips to help take care of your ears while listening to your iPod.

Use noise canceling or sound-isolating headphones. The earphones that come with iPods are hazardous because they fit directly into the ear. These earphones boost sound by as much as nine decibels. You have the equivalent to the sound of a lawnmower going directly into your ear. Since the earphones do not fit snugly into the ear, it is possible for background noise to interfere with the music.

The listener has to turn the music up louder make up for the extra noise in the background. Turning up the music helps the listener hear the full range of the music by drowning out any extra noise. Sound-isolating headphones fit snugly into the ear so that background noises cannot be heard over the music. This way, the music can be kept at safe volume.

Turn the volume down. Many people listen to their iPod at a higher volume than is necessary to hear the music well. People are good at turning the music up when they cannot hear it well. Most are not as adept at turning it down once the background noise has subsided. When there is not any noise in the background, turn the music down a couple of notches to see if you can still hear it well.

If the lower volume sounds fine, leave it there. This a good practice to follow even if you do not have the music turned up because of background noise. Since the length of time you listen to loud music is a factor in hearing loss you should periodically test a lower volume level.

Use your ears wisely. Theres something about music that just makes it sound better when its louder. The thing to be careful about with noise is that you do not listen to it too loud for too long too frequently. Ask yourself, Do I have to have it up this loud? You really do not have to listen to every song at the louder settings. Listening to a few songs at a lower volume will make the one song you absolutely must listen to loudly more enjoyable. Think of it as an indulgence while you are on a diet.

Know your family history. If your family has a history of hearing loss, then you are more at risk for hearing problems as well. Loud music for lengthy periods of time will only increase the probability of hearing problems. If your family has a history of hearing problems, you should take extra precautions to preserve your hearing.

Get your hearing checked. This is the only way to accurately gauge your current level of hearing. Having your ears checked will give an early warning to hearing loss. You should have your hearing checked around the same time that you have your eyes checked. This way your doctor can measure the change from visit to visit. If a negative change in hearing is detected, your doctor may be able to give you treatment to improve your hearing or preservation tips to keep it from getting worse.

Quit smoking. Smokers already have a chance of hearing loss than non-smokers. Listening to loud music increases those chances. Being able to listen to your music worry-free is one of many reasons to quit smoking.

Having an iPod is like having a fast car: the speedometer may go up to 220, but the speed limit only allows you to go 70 for your safety. Just because the iPod can play music loudly does not mean you have to listen to that way. Protect your hearing because once its gone, you may never get it back.

About the Author

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website Best-MP3-Players-Online.com

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Don't Let Your Dog Drive You Barking Mad!

2008-05-09T09:11:00.000-04:00

Don't Let Your Dog Drive You Barking Mad!
by goldvein

You love your dog, but he barks! It can be really annoying to you and your neighbors if it becomes incessant barking. You need to understand why your dog barks if you hope to be able to control it.So what can you do to control or reduce your dog 's barking and make him the most loved dog on the block?

Understanding Why Your Dog Barks

Dogs bark for many reasons, even though they appear to be barking for no reason. They are trying to communicate something to you or anyone else who is willing to pay attention. Dogs have sensitive hearing the volume or pitch of a siren/alarm may aggravate your dog and start him barking. Your dog will bark habitually if he is bored, uncomfortable, untrained or anxious for any reason. You'll find that if your dog gets cold during the night, he will often bark in protest. Dogs must have a warm, draught free dog house and should be fed in the evening to ensure that they sleep while we sleep. Barking at the normal movements or usual noise from your neighbors should be considered unacceptable behaviour. So how do you train your dog to minimize his barking?

Training Your Dog to Bark Less Often

First off, there are the traditional methods. Dog training and dog obedience schools help train the dog and also teach you how to handle your pet too, so that you can grow a lasting bond with your dog. Of course if you take your dog out and give him lots of exercise, he'll be a lot less inclined to bark. A tired dog has less energy to bark and a tired sleeping dog can't bark at all! Barking problems are unique among dog behavior problems. You don't want to eliminate your dogs barking, just control it so that your dog lets out one bark to warn you and then he stops barking.

Sometimes barking is good, it 's your dogs main way of communicating with you. He may have heard or smelled something and wants to let you know. Just acknowledging him may well stop the barking, if not try a NO, or Quiet command. If he stops barking reward him so that following your commands becomes pleasurable to him. One of the lesser known ways of stopping a dog from barking is by countering his noise with another noise. The noise you make will startle your dog and make him stop barking. Giving your dog something to chew on is also a good deterrent to barking. How many dogs have you heard barking with their mouths full?

Barking Control Collars

If the traditional methods don't seem to be working it may be time to try a barking control collar. Many of these work by using sound so that the desired behavior can be associated with the sound. Some of the more sophisticated, (and of course expensive), models also use electric shocks to deter the dog from barking. In a survey of British dog owners it was found that they are overwhelmingly against using the electric shock no bark collars. The most humane bark collar available today is the citronella collar. These bark collars work by spraying harmless citronella in your dog 's face whenever he barks.

Bark control collars use two types of bark detection, either sound or vibrations from the dogs throat. Neither type is totally infallible; the vibration type can be set off by motion, and the sound type by external sounds. However both have proved to be effective in helping control your dog 's barking humanely. The best collars employ both methods at the same time to reduce the false readings and help bring barking under control.

Whichever method you use, barking can be brought under control in a reasonably short space of time, so persevere and enjoy your dog for years to come.

About the Author

Steve Dolan is a dog lover and long time dog owner. For more information about dogs click Dog Stuff, and for more about dog Training and keeping your dog happy click Dogs and Puppies Online

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OSHA Guide to Noise and Hearing Safety, Health And Conservation

2008-05-08T09:07:00.000-04:00

OSHA Guide to Noise and Hearing Safety, Health And Conservation
by sannoble

One of the occupational hazards of living in the modern industrial age is noise exposure, both in and away from the workplace. Acoustic noise can be defined as unwanted sound and sounds louder than 80 decibels (dB) are considered potentially dangerous. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), more than 30 million Americans are regularly exposed to hazardous sound levels. According to the EPA the number of people exposed to work induced noise damage is around 9 million.

Noise is considered a necessary evil and the insidious effects of exposure above acceptable levels are generally not realized, mostly because there are no visible effects. The primary effect of excessive noise is hearing loss, either temporary or permanent, depending on the level and duration of exposure. What is even less well known are the secondary effects ranging from sleep disturbances: stress and fatigue, irritability, annoyance and lack of concentration. Noise induced lack of attention and the consequent loss in efficiency are matters of prime concern in the workplace. Not only is productivity impaired, but chances of accidents, impinging on worker and workplace safety, are also increased.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed regulations for acceptable threshold limits of noise in the workplace and mitigation of excessive noise. The 29 CFR standards 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure, lays down permissible exposure limits for different durations of exposure. The recommend exposure level, as per the standard, is 85 dB A on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) basis. If this limit is exceeded, feasible administrative or engineering controls are to be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the permissible exposure limits, personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be provided. Further, irrespective of the reduction of noise exposure to 85 dB A or below with the use of PPE, the employer is to implement a hearing loss protection program.

The 1910.95 standard refers to the mandated hearing protection program as the "Hearing conservation program". This program has five operational parts mandated: (1) Noise monitoring (2) Audiometric Testing (3) Employee Training (4) Hearing Protectors and (5) Record Keeping.

Noise monitoring
Sound levels in the workplace must be measured to ascertain which employees to include in the program, the need for hearing protection equipment and its suitability.

Audiometric Testing
All employees in the program must be subjected to a base line audiometric test to determine pre-existing hearing loss, if any. Annual tests are to be carried out thereafter to asses the effectiveness of the program and for appropriate remedial action as necessary. The standard specifically requires that the audiometric tests be carried out by duly qualified personnel under the supervision of an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.

Employee Training
All employees in the program must receive annual training on the effects of noise on hearing, hearing protection devices and the purpose of audiometric testing.

Hearing Protectors
Hearing protection devices must be made accessible to all employees in the program.

Record Keeping
Records of employee exposure (sound measurement), acoustic or exhaustive audiometer calibration, and audiometric test records must be updated. These records are to be maintained for specific periods of time.

Experience has shown that effective hearing loss protection programs are universally beneficial and that both employer and employees stand to gain from the programs. The employees are protected from hearing loss, fatigue and general debility. The employer benefits from improvement in employee morale and productivity and will also enjoy reduced medical and worker compensation costs.
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Is Your Condo Too Loud?

2008-05-07T09:05:00.000-04:00

Is Your Condo Too Loud?
by Real Estate Advisor

While condo buyers have to look into various factors before deciding on the purchase of a condo, one major aspect that remains very important is the noise factor. Condo living and noise often seem to go hand in hand. Many condo owners are plagued by noise issues. Whether it is due to footfall noise caused by hardwood floors, or the sound transmitting through the walls, condo noise could be very disturbing. This common but unlivable problem can totally disrupt peaceful living, even though the condo may be otherwise perfect.

If you are a prospective condominium buyer, then here are a few points that are worth taking into consideration before your purchase.

Condo buyers are better off inspecting the condo to check if every part of the home is noise proof before finalizing the contract. Mike Komula, is an acoustician with Dudek, a California environmental consulting firm that helps builders assess the acoustic qualities of new buildings. Here are a few tips offered by him for buyers to check for in the condo before they sign a contract.

1. Check for noise by making some - The best way to see if the adjacent units produce noise that seeps through to the rooms in your condo is to test by making noise in the units next door. Test for noise by turning on the radio, flushing the toilets and walking along the floors. One should also check for the plumbing noises made by bath and sink taps which could produce vibrations along the walls or noise when too small.

2. Check multistory floor layouts: Check the layout of the floors to make sure that rooms are placed compatibly above one another. A kitchen or bath above your bedroom, instead of another bedroom, could prove noisy.

3. Sound insulation of windows: Make sure the windows have dual panes for better sound reduction. These absorb more sound than single pane windows. The type of glass pane used for window also counts greatly. Ensure that the panes are a lot thicker for better insulation of sound. Also, larger the air cavities between glass panes means greater noise reduction.

4. Solid doors: Use firmer doors that have a solid core instead of hollow ones to keep out noise effectively.

Builders are increasingly concentrating on noise management especially in multifamily projects and it is recommended that buyers speak to the builder to know about the construction details that enhance noise reduction.

Some of the questions to put across to the builder would be to verify the following:

1. If the shared walls are double walls. A double wall instead of a stud wall of 2x4 foot absorbs more noise due to the wider air gap between the 2 walls.
2. Check for the number of layers of drywall on each side because more the number of layers, better the sound absorption.
3. Check if walls and ceilings have good sound absorbing material such as resilient metal channels.
4. Check the floor for a lightweight layer of concrete topping. It offers substantial noise reduction in airborne and impact noise by adding mass.

Another important thing that Condominium buyers should check is the STC or Sound Transmission Class rating. An STC rating of 65 indicates that the walls and floor-ceiling construction between units are of better sound proofing.
Source: REALTOR magazine online

About the Author

San Diego Condos
La Jolla Condos
Mission Bay Real Estate

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Things That Go Bump In The Night

2008-05-06T08:57:00.000-04:00

Things That Go Bump In The Night
by Davinos Greeno

For those living under the flight path of the busiest airport in the world a good nights sleep has become a distant dream. A friend of mine that is sleep deprived explains why Heathrow is a Human Rights issue.

The sun is out and the birds are chattering. It is blissfully quiet and I am deep in slumber. A deep droning noise jerks me awake. No, it is not my Sunday afternoon nap under the pear tree. It is 4.30 a.m. on a summer 's morning and the first long haul flight of the day is about to land at Heathrow. I have to get up in two and a half hours to travel to work on a hot, sweaty tube train. Too late, though, to get back to dreamland. That jumbo has broken my sleep for good.

Welcome to life under the flight path of the busiest airport in the world.

In Isleworth, we can just about get used to the aeroplanes coming in every two minutes during the day because landings are rotated so that aircraft don't fly constantly over the same houses. But night flights? I don't think so.

Sixteen night flights have been allowed at Heathrow between 11.30 pm and 6am since 1993. Most of the flights arrive after 4.30 am. The government is looking into the possibility of more night flights, provided aircraft use quieter engines as the older and bigger aircraft make a horrendous noise.

So you can imagine how dismayed both myself, and the other 600,000 people living under Heathrow 's flight paths, were to hear that the government had won its appeal against the European Court of Human Rights' ruling that night flights should be banned because we are entitled to a good night 's sleep. In fact it was the European Court of Human Rights which overturned its previous decision in 2001 that "there was no overwhelming national interest for night flights at Heathrow, and therefore the residents' basic human right to sleep should not be sacrificed for the convenience of airlines".

So why a change of heart by the court? Economics. According to our local paper, the Richmond and Twickenham Times, the court found that the economic benefits to the country as a whole outweighed the interests of sleepless residents. The court said that there had been no violation of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention (HRC), the right to respect for private and family life and home. However, it did find that under Article 13 of the HRC, the residents hadn't been given the opportunity to make their case fully in the UK courts. So the fight will go on.

Noise is one of the worst pollutants and can ruin your quality of life. Friends of the Earth remind us that night flights have caused many residents to suffer from constant tiredness, clinical depression, irritability, headaches and ear infections caused by wearing earplugs. It maintains that the noise caused by the night flights was substantially in excess of the World Health Organisation 's guidelines for avoiding sleep disturbance at night. If you have troublesome noisy neighbours, you are protected by the Noise Act of 1996. But, guess what, it doesn't apply to aircraft noise! According to the UK Noise Association, aviation is virtually above the law.

HACAN Clearskies (Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) is the largest voluntary organisation in Europe dedicated to campaigning on behalf of those who suffer because of aircraft flight paths. Whilst not opposed to Heathrow per se, the organisation has fought various battles over the years. It played an important part, for example, in persuading the Government to introduce runway alternation, so that residents in South West London were not continuously bombarded with noise.

There is also the ongoing issue of whether there will be a third runway at Heathrow. Heathrow 's proximity to London means aircraft continuously circle over the capital and come in to land over crowded urban areas. (If the 2001 Concorde crash had happened in London, and not in Paris, the plane would have come down on Ealing!)

HACAN believes that a third runway would increase the possibility of a mid air collision over London. It would also mean 500 more flights a day and a plane flying over our houses every minute, not to mention bad air pollution, congested roads and public transport, and disruption of children 's schooling.

So let 's keep battling for a decent nights sleep. We may have lost this round of the battle, but it will continue now in the UK courts. For more information, go to the HACAN website.
About the Author<>

Davinos Greeno works for the ethical directory which sells fairtrade shoes plus we have Ethical Company Articles for you to read or publish.

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Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

2008-04-01T22:09:00.000-04:00

Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Author: Paul Tobey

On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your tinnitus? If you rated it higher than a five, then it's most likely that the constant ringing in the ears is interfering with your happiness, your life, and your well being.

Occurrences of tinnitus are on the rise and noise induced tinnitus seems to be the one making the most headlines, due to the expressed concern over iPods and other music related sound systems. There still seems to be quite a lack of awareness out there about the dangers of noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

You don't have to look far to find evidence of that. Just walk into your nearest movie theatre and feel the noise decibels penetrate your entire body. The audio levels are very often so unnecessarily loud that it borders on noise pollution! I actually wear ear plugs when I go see movies. Most people don't have a problem with the volume though. Well, at least not until they wake up one day with chronic tinnitus.

Though I am a huge advocate of live music, mainly because that's what I do for a living, I'm still dismayed to see concert goers hanging out right beside the speakers! There are no warning signs that indicate "danger, close a proximity to these devices may cause hearing loss or tinnitus." Maybe there should be a law that obliges festivals, clubs, and venue owners to promote awareness against temporary or permanent hearing loss and tinnitus caused by exposure to loud noise.

There is no cure for tinnitus. And, most insurance companies still do not recognize tinnitus as a debilitating condition and therefore will not cover medical expenses or loss of income caused by chronic suffering. However, tinnitus is often severe enough for many sufferers to seek medical attention. And, as most tinnitus patients will tell you, it is a long road ahead for anyone looking for relief from tinnitus symptoms. Finding relief can be an expensive journey. Many are spending anywhere from $100/month on anti-depressants to $2,500.00 for tinnitus retraining therapy. In many cases, patients will spend thousands more on anyone or anything that will give them promise of relief.

There has been continuous research both in the medical and scientific fields for a cure. However, I wonder how difficult it must be to compete for funding in the face of other epidemics like bird flu, aids, and rising cancer rates. How many people must suffer from tinnitus before the pharmaceutical companies spend large budgets on research? Any search on Google will reveal that millions are already suffering from tinnitus and this is a real serious global medical problem.

But, the biggest question still remains; why are we not doing more to create awareness about noise induced tinnitus? We are a socially responsible society, are we not? We properly label cigarettes, trans fat products, age-appropriate toys, movies, games and dangerous goods. It seems to me that the next step may be to lobby manufacturers to put warning labels on their audio systems and make the event producers give clear warnings at their loud events. These notices could read something like, "loud noise exposure can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss and tinnitus."

Exactly how long will the insurance companies, manufacturers, event producers and government officials try to ignore this growing world wide epidemic? Exactly how long will it be before this collective pool of millions of people get together to affect corporate change and ask for warning labels on loud noise producing products? How long will it be before the insurance companies recognize tinnitus as a medical issue? How long will it be before the message goes out loud and clear?
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/noise-induced-hearing-loss-and-tinnitus-69078.html
About the Author:
After living with Tinnitus for seven years Paul Tobey has authored a self help guide Tinnitus Handbook called Tinnitus Free Living.

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Hvac Noise: Solving a Common Noise Problem

2008-03-31T22:08:00.000-04:00

Hvac Noise: Solving a Common Noise Problem

Author: Murray Stacy

Noise pollution caused by rooftop and ground-level HVAC equipment including chillers, boilers, and air handlers has become one of the most annoying as well as dangerous environmental problems in cities worldwide. As urban noise increases and residential growth multiplies, residents and communities are demanding better noise reduction solutions for heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. Outdoor community noise problems caused by commercial and industrial HVAC systems may require an acoustically engineered Sound Barrier Wall.

Sound barrier walls have been used extensively for years in the transportation and industrial fields. A sound barrier wall is an exterior structure, normally made of masonry or earth, designed to protect sensitive land uses, such as residential areas from noise pollution. These noise pollution abatement products are now being used to help eliminate unwanted noise from HVAC systems as well.

Traditional material for noise barrier walls for HVAC systems has been reflective products. Reflective products, like concrete or brick, simply redirect the unwanted sound waves in other directions, and can actually increase noise by unintentionally reflecting sound waves. There is a better solution. Absorptive sound enclosures and architectural screens actually absorb the unwanted sound waves, minimizing the risk of unintentional reflected noise. Absorptive sound walls reduce reflections and are able to maintain the effectiveness of the barrier. Therefore, the overall noise level is reduced. The advanced materials found in absorptive barrier walls present a much more effective noise barrier solution. There are different solutions for this problem such as the LSE System, an absorptive sound barrier created by Sound Fighter Systems, that actually absorbs the sound waves that hit it, thereby eliminating unwanted noise.

So, if you are facing problems with noisy HVAC equipment an absorptive sound barrier wall is obviously the most effective noise mitigation solution available for this very demanding application. Absorptive walls outperform and outlast all other noise reduction products. Plus, many systems such as the LSE System are an aesthetically pleasing HVAC sound wall with the added benefit of noise pollution reduction.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/hvac-noise-solving-a-common-noise-problem-73974.html

About the Author:
Murray Stacy is Vice President of Sound Fighter Systems, LLC, which has been researching, designing and manufacturing highly efficient absorptive noise barrier walls since 1973, making it the oldest established manufacturer of such products in America. Sound Fighter walls have been produced for unique noise mitigation applications around the world, and several of the company's walls are in their 30th year of effective service. http://www.soundfighter.com

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Firearms Suppressors for Preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss

2008-03-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

Firearms Suppressors for Preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Author: Jay J. Quilligan, M.D.

Silencers, or more properly 'suppressors', were originally designed by Hiram Maxim so that people could enjoy shooting in their backyards without disturbing their neighbors. During the Great Depression there was some concern on the part of the government that suppressed firearms would be used for poaching livestock by those in need during these trying years. Suppressors were thus included in the NFA Act of 1934 and subject to registration as well as a 200.00 transfer tax. Silencers have since been used by gangsters, spies and assassins in the movies and this has given them a somewhat unsavory image. Most people are of the opinion that silencers are illegal, when in fact they are quite legal in most states. In many foreign countries they are not only unregulated, but considered quite important for hearing protection and reducing noise pollution.

While suppressors certainly offer a tactical advantage as far as disguising the location of a shooter by both noise and flash reduction, we feel that a much more important aspect of suppressor use is hearing protection at the source of the noise. My background as an ear, nose and throat physician has given me significant knowledge and exposure to both the causes and effects of noise exposure with attendant permanent hearing loss. During my tenure in the U.S. Army, one of the most frequent problems that we faced was high frequency hearing loss secondary to noise exposure. While many of these individuals sustained their hearing loss in actual battle, others were only exposed in training situations. Even though supposedly adequate hearing protection was provided, these individuals still had hearing loss over time.

Research has shown that individuals regularly exposed to small arms fire in training situations are over ten times more likely to sustain noise induced hearing loss than individuals not so exposed. This is despite regular use of protective ear devices, which are supposed to reduce noise levels to below damaging thresholds. The cause for this phenomenon is most likely due to bone conduction of the noise directly into the middle and inner ears. While bone conduction hearing is certainly less sensitive than conduction through the normal ear canal, nonetheless the noise levels produced by repeated gunshots are certainly great enough to cause hearing loss over time.

Use of a properly designed sound suppressor on a firearm is no different than putting a muffler on your car. A sound suppressor on, for example, a 223 rifle can reduce the noise level from over 160 dB, which is quite harmful, to under 140 dB, which is the OSHA limit for noise exposure. This cuts off the noise at the source and eliminates dependence on ear protection devices, which are prone to failure. It also eliminates the risk of bone conduction hearing loss from excessive noise.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/firearms-suppressors-for-preventing-noise-induced-hearing-loss-293925.html

About the Author:
Jay J. Quilligan, M.D.
Quicksilver Manufacturing LLC
www.qsmsilencers.com

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Noise Pollution Can Hurt You

2008-03-29T22:07:00.000-04:00

Noise Pollution Can Hurt You
Author: Phyllis Wasserman

Car alarms, screeching subway cars, loud bars and barking dogs are only a few of the annoyances that can harass people on a daily basis. In a large metropolitan city, these things are the norm and are actually harmful to your ears.

If you are exposed to this constantly you can suffer permanent hearing loss. A rock concert has the noise level of 110 decibels. Even a crowded restaurant can be as much as 96 decibels. And if the sound was not enough, it can damage your ears immediately. When noise is loud it can kill the nerve endings in the inner ear. There is no way to restore nerve endings that are dead. Hearing loss happens gradually, so you would not know about it unless you have your ears tested. By then it can be too late.

Noise also has other detrimental factors. It can cause high blood pressure, fatigue and headaches. It can cause anxiety and difficulty focusing on chores.

New York city became the first city in the United States to adopt a noise code in 1972. It is still in effect today. The law says that no car alarm can ring for more than 3 minutes and that construction can only occur weekdays between 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. and weekends 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. The only way it is enforced is through complaints. You can be fined $45 for "unreasonable noise" and as much as $8,000 for larger violations (say, in a nightclub).

Listening to an iPod? Don't spin the dial up more than two thirds. Earbuds can increase the volume and put your ears in constant danger.

The average rock concert has 115 decibels, fifteen minutes is the most you can handle without ear plugs. If they are properly fitted, ear plugs work very well. Foam earplugs are made to last only a couple of days. Wax ones are stronger. There are also custom made silicon-rubber earplugs, which you can wash and re-use for years. They can cost as much as $125.

Sound proofing your home is a good idea as well. Hang heavy window curtains and use acoustical tile where possible. If you really need some quiet time, go to the beach, swim, or go to the library.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/noise-pollution-can-hurt-you-1559.html

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