Noise and health
Noise in the environment or community seriously affects people, interfering with the daily activities at school or work and at home and during leisure time.
WHO guidelines identify the main health risks of noise:
- pain and hearing fatigue;
- hearing impairment including tinnitus;
- annoyance;
- interferences with social behavior (aggressiveness, protest and helplessness);
- interference with speech communication;
- sleep disturbance and all its consequences on a long and short term basis;
- cardiovascular effects;
- hormonal responses (stress hormones) and their possible consequences on human metabolism (nutrition) and immune system;
- performance at work and/or school decrements.
