Daniel Fink MD – DJFink@thequietcoalition.org
Program Chair
The Quiet Coalition
A program of Quiet Communities, Inc.
P.O. Box 533
Lincoln MA, USA
Popular version of 4aPP10 – Should the common-law right to quiet enjoyment be expanded to a literal right to quiet in one’s home?
Presented at the 189th ASA Meeting
Read the abstract at https://eppro02.ativ.me//web/index.php?page=Schedule&project=ASAASJ25&title=Calendar%20View
–The research described in this Acoustics Lay Language Paper may not have yet been peer reviewed–
Should people have a legal right to quiet in their homes? There already is a legal doctrine called based on English Common Law, but this has nothing to do with quiet. It means that a landlord can’t bother a tenant unnecessarily in a rented apartment or house.
The official definition of noise is noise is unwanted sound but a newer definition, already adopted by the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise, is noise is unwanted and/or harmful sound. Noise has both auditory and non-auditory health effects. Too much noise causes hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and hyperacusis (a sensitivity to noise that doesn’t bother others). Non-auditory health effects include high blood pressure, heart disease, and increased mortality. Possible non-auditory health effects also include obesity, diabetes, and infertility.
The Environmental Protection Agency calculated safe noise levels in 1974. These are not standards or regulations, but were calculated as mandated by Congress.
Table 1. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Noise Levels
The World Health Organization published recommendations for noise exposure in 2018.
Table 2. World Health Organization Noise Level Recommendations
Noise damages hearing but how does noise damage overall health? As shown by the National Park Service noise map (Figure 1), without human noise, nature is quiet. Loud noise usually signals danger. The perception of danger leads to a three-part involuntary response, 1) an almost immediate increase in blood pressure and pulse, mediated by the autonomic nervous system; 2) a slower increase in stress hormone levels, involving the brain, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands; and 3) inflammation of blood vessel linings. An illustration of how this might occur is shown in the Figure 2.
In 1981, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 100 million Americans were exposed to harmful levels of noise pollution. That number is undoubtedly larger now. Multiple studies document excessive noise exposure for those living in cities, largely from road traffic noise. In London, the median daytime road traffic noise level was 55.6 decibels (dB), with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality to those exposed to >60 dB, especially older people. In the HYENA study, increased aircraft and road traffic noise exposure was correlated with increased blood pressure. Average noise levels may hide intermittent noise disrupting sleep. Nighttime noise has particularly deleterious effects on health due to sleep disruption.
Figure 1. National Park Service Noise Map Without Anthropogenic Noise
Figure 2. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms of noise-induced cardiometabolic disease. Reproduced with permission from Munzel T, Schmidt FP, Steven S, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 Feb 13;71(6):688-697. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29420965/
There can be no rational doubt that noise is harmful. The Noise Control Act of 1972 established a national policy to promote an environment for all Americans free from noise that jeopardizes their health and welfare. Expanding the Right to Quiet Enjoyment to a literal right to enjoy quiet in one’s home, whether rented or owned, will take either litigation or legislation at the local, state, or national levels. This presentation is a preliminary discussion of this topic, with any expansion of a right to quiet enjoyment undoubtedly something that will take may years to accomplish. One thing is for sure: a quieter world, with homes that are free from unhealthy noise disturbances inside and in their outdoor spaces, will be a better and healthier world for all.
More information may be obtained from the conference poster at https://virtual.posterpresentations.com/research/presentation/ID639470/