The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

10 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
Sleep disturbance
2.7 A good night’s sleep is acknowledged as important to wellbeing. Losing
sleep can be one of the strongest reasons people give for objecting to
noise. Sleep research is, however, a complex and challenging field. It can
be very hard to prove that a particular noise woke someone up. People
typically wake up for many reasons, as well as the outdoor noise source
which is being studied.
2.8 The main issues are difficulty getting to sleep, being awoken too soon,
getting back to sleep once awoken, and changes in ‘sleep stages’ - the
type of sleep experienced. People may report after-effects from disturbed
sleep, including reduced sleep quality, increased tiredness, depressed
mood, and decreased performance, or lack of concentration. Researchers
have also studied physiological effects understood as induced by noise
during sleep. 9 These include increased blood pressure, increased heart
rate, increased finger pulse, vasoconstriction, changes in respiration,
cardiac arrhythmia and increased body movements.
Other adverse effects
2.9 Other adverse effects of noise include:
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Hearing impairment - Workers in certain industries have, if hearing
protection or other measures have not been used, been at risk of
hearing loss. There is increasing concern about noise exposure in
nightclubs, and other leisure venues, including pubs and restaurants.
Some sufferers from tinnitus report their condition being brought on
by one loud exposure. Environmental noise levels near busy roads,
railways and airports are not considered to pose a risk of hearing
impairment to local residents.
Interference with speech and other communication - Noise can mask
voices, radio/TV or other sounds, including music, which people want
to hear. The extent of interference depends not only on the volume of
the interfering noise, but whether it is similar in pitch or frequency to
the sound people want to hear. Other factors include how distracting
the interference is to the listener, and how good their own hearing is.
Noisy environments can make communication harder for people with
hearing impairments. It can become harder for people with visual
impairments to sense where they are. Noise can cause people to keep
windows closed when they would rather have them open.
Cardiovascular and other physiological issues - some studies have
identified associations at noise levels higher than normally associated
with ambient noise, and for very long term exposure. The evidence is
not strong, but it is important that research in this area continues.