What Are the Hazards of Long-Term Noise Exposure?

Update Date: 2024-06-20 Source: Network

With the Development of Industrialization, Noise Pollution Has Become Increasingly Severe

With the development of industrialization, the environment we live in can be described as extremely noisy. Noise pollution, such as honking cars on the street and the sound of construction machinery, poses a significant threat to human beings. Long-term exposure to noise can lead to various harmful effects, including causing physical illnesses, disrupting normal work and learning, affecting sleep and rest, damaging hearing, and extending reaction time to recognize dim light.

Firstly, noise pollution can cause physical illnesses. Some experiments have shown that noise has a certain impact on the nervous system and cardiovascular system of humans. Long-term noise pollution can cause headaches, panic, neurosis, and even neurosis. Noise can also lead to accelerated heartbeat, vasospasm, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and other illnesses. Extremely strong noise (such as 170 decibels) can even lead to death.

Secondly, noise pollution can interfere with normal work and learning. When noise is below 60 decibels, it has almost no impact on people's conversation and thinking. However, when noise exceeds 90 decibels, conversation and thinking become almost impossible, which will seriously affect people's work and learning.

Thirdly, noise pollution can affect sleep and rest. Noise can interfere with people's sleep quality. When sleep is disrupted and people cannot fall asleep, they may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath and nervous excitement. Over time, this can lead to insomnia, tinnitus, excessive dreaming, fatigue, memory decline, and other issues.

Fourthly, noise pollution can damage hearing. Noise can cause temporary and permanent hearing damage to humans. Generally speaking, noise below 85 decibels is unlikely to harm hearing, but when it exceeds 100 decibels, nearly half of the population may suffer from hearing loss.

Lastly, noise pollution can prolong reaction time to recognize dim light. Research has shown that when noise reaches 90 decibels, the sensitivity of rod cells in the retina to distinguish brightness begins to decline, and the reaction time to recognize dim light is extended. When noise reaches 95 decibels, the pupils may dilate. When noise reaches 115 decibels, the eye's adaptability to brightness may decrease.

To address noise pollution, we can take actions from three aspects: reducing noise generation, controlling noise propagation, and protecting individuals from noise. Reducing noise generation requires efforts from government departments and everyone. In today's increasingly industrialized and urbanized society, we can use sound insulation devices such as soundproof glass or personal protective equipment like earplugs to create a quiet and comfortable living and working environment for ourselves.