View of Nature Can Help Reduce Noise Pollution

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), increased noise pollution results in several adverse effects on health that range from stress and sleep disruptions to diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.

Questions now arise like: how can such negative impacts of noise pollution on health is heavily populated, urban places be reduced, and if there are ways to influence the noise's subjective perception.

Phys.org reported that researchers of Empa led by Acoustics-Noise Reduction lab's Beat Shaffer, together with Swiss Federal Office for the Environment or FOEN experts, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel found that reduction of noise population is possible.

The researchers said that a view from the window into the countryside could substantially decrease the perceived noise population. Whether we're looking into a nearby park, a mountain range or a pond, the said research showed, a view into nature can make the noise less disturbing.

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(Photo : imagii on Pixabay)
A comparison of the data specifies, in contrast to cars and trains, the more green spaces there are, the more disturbed we feel by aircraft noise.

Relaxing Green

For this particular research, the team used an NDVI or Normalized Difference Vegetation Index which is computed on the basis of "remote sensing data and documents" a specific region's whole green space.

In 2019, this research which involved around 5600 participant contained information on noise pollution coming from road, and traffic and rail noise.

Through comparison of data on green spaces specifically in Switzerland with the survey results, Schaffer and his group were able to identify how recreational areas impact the perception of noise.

The study's conclusion is that both parks and green spaces help in the reduction of perception of noise resulting from road and train noise.

The closer the recreation area to an individual's home, the lower the subjectively believed annoyance from noise releases.

Different Case with Aircraft Noise

It is no longer surprising that green spaces impact one's perception of noise. However, much more interesting is the outcome concerning aircraft noise.

This case, the comparison of the data specified, is in contrast to cars and trains, that the more green spaces there are, the more disturbed we feel by aircraft noise.

Schaffer explained, there are several reasons for such a difference. "While we can escape from the road or train noise," he elaborated, by walling a short distance, the same thing cannot be done with aircraft noise.

We are nearly helplessly at the airborne noise's mercy since we cannot escape the noise by a few meters distance. The expert added, this "being at the mercy of the noise" may result in humans to perceive noise as causing more disturbance.

Another point the researchers emphasize on is what's called "incongruity." In a park, Schaffer said, it is expected to be a quiet place.

But if the silence is disrupted by something, "we cannot influence," continued Schaffer adding, such noise can be perceived as far more disturbing. For instance, an airplane in the sky can hardly be noticed when humans are walking around a busy city.

Later on, the study investigators would want to look even further into the psychological, more specifically, physiological features of noise, including other factors.

Furthermore, the team also aims to assess in more detail what impact green spaces have on physiological stress, as well as what criteria local recreation sites need to meet for residents to recover from stress.

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