Noise pollution is a growing concern for most Americans.  It is a problem because many city, suburban, and rural areas are affected.  Noise creeps into our cars, our homes, and schools and disrupts everything.  Noise pollution is a more harmful pollutant than most think.  Medical evidence proves that noise can have detrimental physical and psychological effects upon a person.  It is a danger to one's mental health, it interrupts the learning development of children, and it hinders sleep.
The physical consequences of short-term exposure to noise pollution can result in higher blood pressure and cholesterol increase (Bullock- Loughran 12,13). Medical evidence proves that prolonged exposure to noises can cause persistent health problems such as ulcers or hypertension (Thomas 20, Bullock- Loughran 12). There have been cases where heart attacks have occurred in individuals with already present cardiac problems. One common and harmful form of noise pollution, aircraft noise, has amazing effects on one’s physical health.  A study conducted in the early eighties proved that people residing within 3 miles of the Los Angeles International Airport had a higher death rate of 19% than the death rate of those residents six miles away from the airport.  Similar conclusions occurred at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Thomas 20).
Along with the physical effects, there are psychological issues related to noise pollution.  A psychological study concludes that humans may adapt to noise at times but random and unpredictable noise may eventually cause some deterioration in everyday activity (Thomas 18). Some people have even committed murder, used drugs, and have experienced breakdowns due to noise (Bronzaft 9).  Lambrinos Lykouresis, a 78-year-old farmer from an island off the coast of Greece shot and killed his neighbor and wounded her son because of the anguish he felt over their loud music.  Lykouresis often complained to his neighbors about the music but they never cared.  Now the old man is serving two life sentences in a Greek prison (Geary 1).
One of the most awful burdens of noise pollution is that it negatively interferes with learning development.  The children most affected by noise, are those who live near railroads, airports, cities, and those that grow up in noisy homes (Bronzaft 10).
Thomas states that, “In 3 schools around 1 airport there were between 40 and 60 interruptions per day, resulting in a loss of 10 to 20 minutes per day in each classroom”(18).  A Cornell University study proved that children had an overall trouble of distinguishing human voices.  Because of the noise pollution that constantly surrounded them, the researchers concluded that the children probably mentally cut out some of the sound, which includes the teachings and instruction of their teachers.  Author Vincent Kiernan writes, "Because reading skills are in part acquired by listening to others, ignoring speech hampers their development" (Kiernan 1). This study is an important because it undoubtedly relates noise pollution and learning.
One study shows that noise threatens a good night's sleep, which in turn can have a negative impact on the following day.  Any daily task, such as driving or working, may be difficult.  Because of a shortened attention span, due to the loss of sleep, accidents are likely to occur (Bronzaft 9).
The United States is a nation with a growing number of people with hearing problems.  10 million people experience hearing impairment due to noise (McCabe 3). The danger level of noise is 85 decibels and higher, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (McCabe 4, Singleton 3).  Sound over this rate can cause significant damage to the ear.  One type of hearing loss, sensorineural deafness, is mostly associated with overexposure to loud noise. Damage usually begins with the ripping out of the delicate hair cells by extremely loud noise (Doheny 3). The major causes of this type of hearing loss are loud music and job related noise.
Being surrounded by loud music over a period of time is one of the main causes of hearing damage (Young 2).  The level at a rock concert is 130 to 140 decibels (Singleton 3, Doheny 3), if one spends more than 18 minutes at a concert; they are in danger of losing their hearing (McCabe 5).  Kathy Peck, an executive director of a group set up to warn others about the perils of loud music, Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers, admits that she lost almost half her hearing playing in a loud band for years (3).  The loud rock music of the 90’s is a reason for some concern for many teens today.  Surprisingly, one can suffer from hearing damage temporarily or possibly permanently from a short but loud burst of noise (Ward 106).  Paul Moen, a production manager, who lost his hearing in his left ear because of a single incident- a gun shot, set off at close range.  After the incident, the next morning, he could not even hear his alarm going off.  Now at the age of only 46, he occasionally wears a hearing aid (Doheny 1 & 2).
Finally, job related noise pollution is a contributing factor to hearing loss. Those who work in an industrial environment, surrounded by noise constantly, for 8 hour days, 5 days a week, at noise levels of 85 decibels or higher, are certainly at risk of hearing damage (Ward 107).
The only solution to reducing one’s noise intake is to simply block it.  This is especially helpful to those living near an airport, busy street, or an amphitheater.  Here are the most practical ways to block noise:

-Soundproof your home.  Logically and cost-wise, the best time to soundproof the home is during construction or remodeling, suggests United States Corp. technical services manager, Fred Tolson.  The Chicago-based company specializes in noise-reduction products.  Tolson says first, start your home with a well-planned layout.  Do not plan bedrooms near laundry rooms or do plan to separate bedrooms on opposite sides using wall-to-wall closets.  Second, use insulation, larger frames, and deeper walls.  The insulation used for conserving heat and cool air is just as convenient for muzzling sound.  The dense insulation should be added to the void spaces in between walls and by using larger frames and deeper walls, more insulation can be stuffed into the wall cavities.  Also, apply a layer or two of thick drywall to block noise.  Third, seal and avoid any holes.  Apply sealant to the frames of walls, doors, ceilings, and floors.  Caulk is fine, but sealant is more effective.  Furthermore, do not align outlets and such directly opposite of each other, sound can leak through these tiny holes (Sulski 2-5).  Fourth, separate the floor from the ceiling possibly by constructing the floor on top of rubber strips.  Rubber is excellent for absorbing sound.  This process mainly cuts down on impact sound, such as the thumping of footsteps.  If your home is already constructed or you are renting, the best place to catch noise before it bothers you is at the windows and doors.  An addition of a secondary glass to the window is great for blocking outside noise.  This is not to be confused with a double-paned glass system.  A secondary glazing system includes more space between the sheets of glass which is better at hampering sound and less expensive (Howell 2,3).  Lastly, decorate your home with plush carpeting and heavy drapes on the inside and plant shrubs and trees on the outside to absorb noise (Sulski 5,6).

-Refrain from noisy home appliances.  There are many new quiet appliances on the market these days.  Manufacturers are focusing on less noisy blenders, air conditioners, vacuums, and refrigerators.  The newest appliance specializing in quiet, is the DishDrawer.  It is dishwasher in drawers.  Not only is it quiet but also convenient.  The new DishDrawer is a set of drawers, therefore only one drawer can be used, in case of a small amount of dishes, or both, in the case of a large family or a Christmas party.  The DishDrawer, created by Fisher and Paykel Appliances, is designed with a pump and motor in one.  Another much needed appliance, the refrigerator, has new models with continuous low powered compressors.  The compressor in refrigerators is the main noise source.  Remember those old refrigerators without automatic defrosters- well they are still out there.  These models tend to hum less than automatic defrosters.
The drawback to this solution is that defrosting your fridge by hand is quite messy and the new quiet compressor models are too expensive, most cost $800 and higher.  In this instant the best choice is to go with the non automatic defroster.  Which is worst constant humming in your ear that cause damage over time, or a pair of wet hands and water on the floor once a year?
Finally, those noisy ventilating hoods atop most stoves can be quieted by not using a mesh filter. Author Barbara Boughton suggests a “squirrel cage ventilator.” This ventilator is also more convenient to clean (2).

-Noise-busters and Earplugs.  Noise-busters are plainly noise-suppression or noise-reduction devices.  Scientists have invented two new noise-busting headphones.  The first type muffles annoying sounds such as leaf blowers, snow blowers, and lawn mowers.  These headphones basically isolate one from all sound.  The second type of headphone, aimed at mostly airplane passengers, only drowns out the noise.  These headphones will not isolate one completely from the voices around them.  The product made by Noise Control Technologies, can be found at stores such as Brookstone or Sharper Image for $69.  The more advanced models, made by Sennheiser and Bose, are designed for pilots and are more expensive (Cox 4).  Finally, the most sensible, logical way to block sound and protect hearing--EARPLUGS!  There are foam earplugs, wax earplugs, silicone earplugs, all kinds of earplugs- just put them in your ears.  For about $3, one can buy a bag of twenty earplugs.  Earplugs can reduce your noise intake from about 20 to 30 decibels less than the original sound.  If you are unsure about when to use them, test this scenario: stand three feet away from someone.  If one of you has to shout to be heard, then you need earplugs and so does your friend (Kalb 3,4).
Let’s face it- there will never be an end to noise.  Since the beginning of time, someone or something was making a sound that offended others.  Because will never go away that does not mean we have to endure it.  The best way to keep out noise is to block it. Whether that be to soundproof your home, or wear ear plugs.  Also do not create unnecessary noise for yourself or others. Your ears will thank you.
 

                                                        Works Cited

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Bronzaft, Arlene L.  “The Increase in Noise Pollution: What are the Health Effects?”
 Nutrition Health Review  78 (1998): 4-5.

Bullock- Loughran, Patricia.  “The Effects of Noise on Patients’ Heart Rate and Blood
 Pressure.”  Diss.  Arizona State University, 1986.

Cox, Jack.  “Technology, Good Vibes, Noise Control Gizmos Go for Quieter World.”
 The Denver Post  17 May 1998, second ed.: F1+.

Doheny, Kathleen.  “Listen to this, Boomers;  The Bad News: More people in their 50’s
 are reporting hearing impairment.  The Good News: Hearing aids are getting
 better, making them easier to wear and less of a stigma.”  Los Angeles Times
 20 Apr. 1998, home ed.: S1.

Geary, James.  “Mad About Noise.”  Time  27 July 1998: 38.

Howell, Jeff.  “For God’s sake, turn it down!; Property: Traffic, television, your neighbour’s stereo… don’t get mad, get soundproofed.”  The Independent (London) 19 Oct. 1997: News 14+.

Kalb, Claudia.  “Our Embattled Ears.” Newsweek 25 Aug. 1997: 75.

Kiernan, Vincent.  “Noise Pollution Robs Kids of Language Skills.”  New Scientist
10 May 1997: 5.

McCabe, Michael.  “Anti-Noise Crusaders Get Louder and Louder.”  The San Francisco
 Chronicle  19 Feb. 1998, final ed.: A1.

Singleton, Janet.  “Huh? Hear! Hear! Noise Pollution is No Joke.”  The Denver Post  24
 Apr. 1995, second ed.: E1.

Sulski, Jim.  “Tone It Down!; The Ins and Outs of Soundproofing a Noisy Dwelling.”
 Chicago Tribune 18 Sept. 1998, final ed.: C1+.
 
Thomas, Sharon M.  “Perception of Airport Hazards by Land Users in the Vicinity of
 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.”  Diss.  Arizona State University,
1980.

Ward, W. Dixon.  “Noise-induced Hearing Loss.”  Noise and Society.  Ed. Dylan M.
Jones and Antony J. Chapman.  Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd., 1984. 77-109.

Young, Leslie A.  “Sonic Boomers; Clinton’s Hearing Aid Catches His Generation’s Ear”
 Mountain News  14 Oct. 1997, D3.