Photo credit: Markus Spiske
by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Board of Directors, GrowNYC, Co-founder, The Quiet Coalition, and Honorary Chair, Quiet American Skies
Writer Ricardo Kaulessar starts his article in northjersey.com by reporting on how a student soccer game had to be stopped every few minutes because of overhead aircraft noise. The students living in this New Jersey neighborhood told him that they have become accustomed to the noise. Kaulessar reminds us that despite this claim, the students cannot prevent the noise from harming them physically and mentally. The body has to work harder to adapt to this type of noise and it is this “extra work” that can harm one’s health.
New York, Jersey City and Newark were identified as three of the top 50 American cities with the worst noise pollution problems, according to a report by Steel Guard Safety, a manufacturer of noise control products. Thus, residents in these cities are more prone to increased anxiety and poorer mental health. In an attempt to lessen noise pollution, these cities have passed noise ordinances. But as I have relayed in other blog posts, this article is a reminder that noise ordinances are often not adequately backed up by enforcement.
In addition to aircraft noise, individuals in the cities cited above are affected by loud music, idling cars and modified mufflers. I would like to point out that noise could also be lessened if people respected each other. I’ve read many articles in the past year that detail confrontations over noise that resulted in acts of violence. Kaulessar’s article describes a professor who was nearly punched by a driver whom he confronted for revving his car engine too loudly.
Newark Airport is taking little action to lessen the noise of overhead flights, according to this article. So, student soccer games will continue to be halted by overhead aircraft noise. Unless noise ordinances are backed up by enforcement, individuals will continue to be subjected to loud cars and noisy neighbors, and their mental and physical health will continue to deteriorate.
