reduce traffic noise in half. This is the objective of the European Commission with its proposal to update the Vehicle Noise Directive next June. The measure is backed by the World Health Organization (WHO), since according to a report just published, this noise is the second greatest environmental threat, after the pollution, and responsible, according to estimates health agency, 50,000 heart attacks each year in Europe.
According
WHO document, 1.8% of heart attacks in high-income European countries can be attributed to traffic noise levels above 60 decibels (dB). The sound of road vehicles and trains also causes 200,000 cases of cardiovascular disease.
The agency has estimated potential life years lost due to premature deaths and years of 'healthy' life lost to disability or illness. A yardstick known as DALYs, for its acronym in English. According to these calculations, the ambient noise is 61,000 years lost due to ischemic heart disease, 45,000 years for cognitive impairment in children, 903,000 years for sleep problems and 22,000 years for tinnitus in the countries of Europe.
One in three Europeans recognize that the traffic noise bothers you during the day and one in five has trouble sleeping because of this. Epidemiological evidence suggests that people who are chronically exposed to high noise levels have increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
"The revision of the policy for vehicles intended to protect the health of millions of Europeans and improve their quality of life, what should be very strict in the new noise levels that will allow cars, vans, trucks and others, "says Nina Renshay, former director of Transport & Environment (T & E), a group that advocates for transportation sustainable.
"The WHO figures shown are worrying and it is likely the impact of noise pollution on health is much higher than what it says," says Anne Stauffer, the Health Alliance and Environment (HEAL). "traffic noise is a serious public health problem. We hope that the EU now has the evidence, politicians make changes necessary legislation to protect citizens, "he adds.
0 comments:
Post a Comment