What Is Noise Pollution?

Noise pollution is unwanted human-created sound that has the effect of being annoying, distracting, painful, or physically harmful.

It is a public health issue that is adversely affecting the lives of millions of people throughout the world. People continuously exposed to noise experience hearing loss, elevated stress levels, mood swings, hypertension, depression, lost sleep and productivity. In children, it results in slowed learning.

We are a coalition of citizens, elected representatives, law enforcement professionals, educators, researchers, students and activists from the United States and abroad. We are dedicated to combating this urban blight that is ruining communities everywhere.

Sign up for our newsletter filled with stories about people working to reduce noise pollution in their lives and community and much more. Join in on the discussion at our message board.

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NoiseOFF Message Board Join the discussion on noise pollution with others in our new message board. Discussion topics include common noise problems, legislation and enforcement, media stories on noise pollution and events.

NoiseOFF Newsletter Our monthly newsletter is filled with stories about people working to reduce noise pollution in their lives and community, strategies on working with legislators and police officials for better enforcement of noise codes.

Electric Vehicles Why are automakers and technology companies working to make electric vehicles noisy? Forget what you have read in newspapers about quiet cars and pedestrian safety. We reveal the insidious reason why electric cars are being deliberately designed to emit massive noise pollution on an unsuspecting public.

Rumbler Siren The Rumber is an ear-splitting police siren system that according to its manufacturer, "have the distinct advantage of penetrating and shaking solid materials allowing vehicle operators and nearby pedestrians to FEEL the sound waves, and perhaps even see their effects through a shaking rearview mirror." The NYPD announced their intention to expand the use of the Rumbler siren in New York City. A flyer for download is now available.

Meet The Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen City A family in Emporia, Kansas has filed suit over noise and stray voltage from a next door energy substation. Westar Energy, the company that owns the substation dismissed the complaints and plans to expand the substation. The City then attempted to file an order of protection against the family for posting YouTube videos about their plight.

WNYC Soundcheck on Noise Pollution: Battling Urban Noise | Traffic and Transit | Sounds of the Season A series of audiocasts on noise pollution with host John Schaefer and guest Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Chair of the Noise Committee on the Mayor's Committee on the Environment of New York City. Each month, they discuss specific noise issues that affect urban residents.

Comedy Central: South Park - The F Word The citizens of South Park are troubled by a group of Harley-Davidson bikers making noise in town. They ignore complaints by the community, seeing themselves as getting attention, and continue to make more noise. Frustrated, the boys and other schoolmates assemble to get rid of them.

Please PIPEDOWN Newsletter: January 2010 Heard in shopping malls, grocery stores, department stores, restaurants and elevators, piped music is ubiquitous and annoying. PIPEDOWN-USA is a published source for news about the campaign for freedom from piped music.

Loud Motorcycles A simple and effective regulatory measure for states and municipalities to control motorcycle noise by utilizing the EPA's dormant "label match-up" program.

Noise Pollution Discussion A twenty-two minute audiocast on the issue of noise pollution. The discussion covers many of the social and health impacts of noise on society. This recording is free for radio stations to broadcast.

More Headlines »

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News Articles

Gotham Gazette - City Turns Deaf Ear to Noisy Neighbors
Over 65,000 people complained to the [New York City] 311 line about noisy neighbors in fiscal year 2009, making it the number one noise complaint in the city. This is four times as many as the next most common complaint, street noise, and ten times the number of complaints about noise from a club or bar. And yet, although the city’s vaunted noise code addresses the latter two issues, it offers no provisions to deal with noisy neighbors. Sleep-deprived, frustrated and feeling helpless, those afflicted by loud, uncooperative neighbors often find they have almost nowhere to turn.

Examiner.com - Hybrid and Electric cars can solve noise pollution, and may be more dangerous for the deaf
Have we become so accustomed to the annoying din of modern traffic that we think it is normal? The [National Federation of the Blind] website includes an article titled "We want cars that sound like cars" which begs the question of what cars are supposed to sound like.

NBC New York / MSNBC - NYPD To Shake Up Streets With Siren-Sound Device
The [New York City Police Department] has installed the Rumbler sirens but not everyone is celebrating the new devices.

The Guardian (UK) - Quiet please
Noise pollution causes sleep disturbance, raises blood pressure and can lead to heart disease. Rebecca Hardy on how to survive in an increasingly noisy Britain.

Wired.com - Ambulances And Cop Cars Ready To Rumble
The technology behind the Rumbler is surprisingly simple and works a lot like those annoying bass-heavy stereos that rattle your windows at 2 a.m.

Salon.com - Stop the noise!
When noise pollution is not making us sick and anxious, it is literally killing us. How do we turn it off?

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Videos

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