by Rick Shepard

Created on: December 21, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2009

“In antiquity there was only silence. In the nineteenth century, with the invention of the machine, noise was born. Today, noise triumphs and reigns supreme over the sensibility of men.” - Luigi Russolo, Italian Futurist artist and composer.

The effects of excessive noise on the human body are just now becoming widely known. A study completed in February of 2008 revealed the work of Dr. Lars Jarup. He recently directed a project funded by the European Commission studying turbulence produced by airports and traffic.

You may be thinking, “I don't live by an airport”, but you may also be surprised how the findings of this report correlate with noise from other more common sources. Many of the everyday sound levels we all deal with contribute to these negative effects.

The human body can tolerate resonance levels in the range of 35-40 (dB) for an extended period of time with no noticeable backlash. As the levels increase, problems begin to materialize. If we can identify the types of normal, every-day sounds that surround us in our home and work environments, these noise levels can be addressed.

Dr. Jarup and his team of researchers at the Imperial College in London tested 140 people that resided around London Heathrow, and other major airports across Europe. During the testing, they measured the participant's blood pressure every 15 minutes during the nighttime hours, and found that all participant's measurements rose as the noise levels moved above 35 dB. As aircraft flew overhead, the average rise in systolic pressure was 6.2 mm Hg and diastolic pressure increased by 7.4 mm Hg.

Commercial airlines produce an outside noise level of 80 dB that is heard by the human ear in an indoor environment at 45 to 60 dB. Noise levels and blood pressure rise in direct proportion throughout the increase. The report found that for every increase of 5 dB over 35, blood pressure increased by .66 decibels. While all of us have different tolerances for noise, each of us shows some increase in bodily functions during exposure to loud prolonged sound.

Consider the following common sounds that we all experience and their corresponding maximum levels measured in decibels.

Ringing telephone – 60

Vacuum cleaner – 70

Garbage disposals and dishwashers – 80

Busy urban street – 90

Snoring – 90

Jackhammering – 100

Lawnmowers and motorcycles – 100

Chainsaw – 110

Nightclubs – 120

Rock concert - 120

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Even something as ubiquitous as a ringing telephone can cause increases in blood-pressure under prolonged exposure. This extended exposure raises the male heart-attack risk by 50% and that of females by 150%.

Trauma to the stereo cilia and cochlea causes hearing loss. Sound is amplified by a factor of 20 by the time it reaches the inner ear. An extremely loud sound damages the cochlea's hair cells, reducing their ability to hear that sound level, and lower ones, in the future.

Due to the human body's inability to restore lost hearing, creating quieter work and home environments, and protecting our ears from noises we cannot control, are the only ways to stem the damaging tide. Always be prepared with ear-plugs or a portable music player. Carry them with you at all times and be aware of your surroundings. Many people think it's rude to block out the outside world but in cases where health is at risk, one must take steps to protect themselves.

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