Noise by numbers

Consensus is growing in the scientific community about the effect of too much noise, even indoors. “This indoor noise pollution is an unrecognised health problem, yet it can increase your heart rate, adrenaline levels and fatigue,” says Catherine McMahon, Director of Audiology at Sydney’s Macquarie University. A national sound report by Sony found 80 per cent of Aussies are annoyed by sounds at work. The biggest bugbears:

• loud talkers, 33%

• phones ringing, 32%

• people sneezing, sniffing and coughing, 28%

• construction noise, 27%

• people talking on their phones, 21%. Professor McMahon recommends using noise-cancelling ear buds or headphones to cut background sounds and protect your ears by reducing the volume you need to play music or podcasts.