Social and behavioral effects (Annoyance)
Stronger reactions have been observed when noise is accompanied by vibrations and contains low-frequency components, or when the noise contains impulses, such as with shooting noise. Temporary, stronger reactions occur when the noise exposure increases over time, compared to a constant noise exposure.
Noise can produce a number of social and behavioral effects as well as annoyance. These affects are often complex, subtle and indirect and many effects are assumed to result from the interaction of a number of non auditory variables. The effect of community noise on annoyance can be evaluated by questionnaires or by assessing the disturbance of specific activities. The correlation between noise exposure and general annoyance is much higher at group level than at individual level. Noise above 80 dB(A) may also reduce helping behavior and increase aggressive behavior.
Stronger reactions have been observed when noise is accompanied by vibrations and contains low-frequency components, or when the noise contains impulses, such as with shooting noise. Temporary, stronger reactions occur when the noise exposure increases over time, compared to a constant noise exposure.
In most cases, LAeq, 24h and Ldn are acceptable approximations of noise exposure related to annoyance. However, there is growing concern that all the component parameters should be individually assessed in noise exposure investigations. There is no consensus on a model for total annoyance due to a combination of environmental noise sources.
