Earth, and protect against noise pollution

April 22 is Earth Day — a time to celebrate the beauty of nature and to protect the earth against pollution. One oftenneglected form of environmental pollution is noise. Most Americans are constantly bombarded by excessive noise — from motorcycles, gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers, loud car stereos, boom cars, helicopters, airplanes, car traffic, noisy neighbors, raucous restaurants, back-up beepers, honking horns tied to keyless entry systems, train horns, car alarms and numerous other sources.

All this noise is very harmful. High noise levels are associated with elevated blood pressure, heart disease, hearing loss, sleep deprivation, ringing of the ears, headaches and chronic fatigue. Excessive noise is also a cause of decreased job and academic performance, as well as reduced property values.

Noise is also a climate change issue. Lawn and garden equipment creates up to 5% of the nation’s air pollution. An Environmental

Protection Agency study indicates that a gas-powered leaf blower creates as much nitrogen oxide emissions and volatile organic compounds in one hour as 11 cars being driven for one hour.

Further, noise is an ecosystem issue. Birds are having to chirp louder because of the constant din. High-intensity sound can induce fear, causing species to abandon their habitats. Since the 1960s, there has been a 16-fold increase in ocean noise — posing a threat to fish, dolphins and other marine life.

So what should be done? Municipalities should ban gaspowered leaf blowers. The police should vigorously enforce noise ordinances, such as the city of Pittsburgh’s well-written ordinance specifically related to boom cars, among others. Congress should reinstate the federal noise pollution control office. Individuals should join Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet.