Noise Pollution and Our Health!
STUDIES suggest noise pollution can be detrimental to health and linked to conditions such as stress, insomnia and even heart attacks. The World Health Organisation have even suggested that around 3,300 deaths from strokes and heart attacks each year in the UK could be attributed to noise pollution. With the UK becoming an increasingly populated nation, particularly in urban and suburban areas, the level of noise pollution may be likely to rise in the future with more construction, transport and people adding to the issue.
BuildingMaterials.Co.UK ran a poll of 1000 Britons to find out which noises
affect them the most.
►
The noise from building work; for example drilling or hammering; was named by
the highest number of respondents (27%) as the sound that annoys them the most.
These types of construction noises are more annoying to women than men, with 32%
of females who participated in our poll naming this as their top choice for the
most irritating sound, compared to 26% for males.
►
A close 2nd on the list was the noise from alarms. Overall, 23% of
participants in our poll said they found the sound of car or house alarms to be
the most annoying.
However looking at just the female vote, noise from neighbours (such as shouting
or playing music too loudly) was considered to be the second most annoying
behind building work.
►
Other noises people find annoying include sounds from animals, like dogs barking
(15% named this as their top answer) and children playing outside (9% citing
this as the sound that most irritates them).
Based on their findings, the team at BuildingMaterials.co.uk have provided
suggestions on how to prevent noise pollution entering your home!
► WINDOWS - A first step is to look at any gaps around windows and make sure they are
properly sealed. Triple glazed windows add an extra layer of air and glass to
what you would get with double glazing, bringing added sound
► DOORS - A door with a solid core made from a material such as wood will offer improved
insulation over hollow doors or those filled with a lightweight material. It's
also worth paying attention to the small gaps around your doors and installing
door seals.
► INSULATED PLASTERBOARD - Sound insulating or acoustic plasterboard has a high density core and is great
both for stopping noise from entering your home from the outside and for sound
proofing rooms in your house (like home cinemas or music rooms) to reduce
internal noise distribution. The boards are applied directly to the walls and
become invisible once finished and decorated.
► CURTAINS - Drapes or curtains in heavy fabrics such as wool can help to absorb more sound
from entering a room via windows and doors. There are also special sound
absorbing materials from which curtains can be made.
