Comparative Study -Health Research on Traffic Noise Pollution Vs. Technical Research on Traffic Noise Mitigation

摘要

Presented in this paper arc the findings from a comprehensive literature search to investigate the recent findings in community health research, from a social context, related to environmental noise pollution, and the current noise abatement guidelines and criteria adopted by the agencies managing the environmental noise. It was found that evidence exists to support the hypothesis that there are associations between environmental noise and a number of adverse health effects. However the evidence is not so strong that the response relationships could be determined. Accordingly it was found that is not possible to define a threshold noise level below which there would be no adverse health effects. It is also found that the underpinning basis on which each country sets and manages environmental noise is through setting a priority criterion which is "feasible and fair". The treatment intervention drivers are "cost and public complaints", especially in existing conditions. It was also found that the implementation of the guidelines, at least in Australia, is not mandatory but recommended. It appears that treatment strategies are more reactive than proactive in nature, mainly resulting from resource limitations, including cost.