Environmental Health Center

EnvironMinute Health Scripts

Noise pollution is everywhere. Noise from construction, traffic, airplanes, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and boom boxes fills everyone's air. Turn down the volume on today's EnvironMinute. [:12]

"Noise" comes from the Latin "nausea." So as you might expect, noise can affect your health. Noise can cause hearing and sleep loss, stress, and high blood pressure. You yourself may create noise pollution when you use loud appliances or machinery. Most noise is generated by other people without our consent — the auditory equivalent of second-hand smoke. That noise is emitted into air that belongs to everyone. Groups like the Citizen's Coalition Against Noise monitor sound levels, advocate for noise control, and work to raise awareness about noise pollution. They say a little insulation and consideration for others can go a long way towards keeping the peace. [:37]

The EnvironMinute is produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council and made possible by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation. [:10]

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