Observation #4

Observation #4 - Noise Pollution

My fourth observation was noise pollution. You may be wondering why this is such a problem. It's annoying, but it can't cause any serious problems, right? Wrong! Research suggests that it can raise stress and cause high blood pressure, Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), sleep disturbances, and heart disease. This disturbs the wildlife too. Studies show that that loud noises cause bluebirds to have fewer chicks and cause caterpillars' hearts to race faster. It doesn't just affect land animals, though. Loud noises from ships and human activities in the ocean is hurtful for animals that depend on echolocation to survive, like whales and dolphins.

What can we do about this?

You can try to avoid very noisy activities and use a way of transportation that makes minimal noise, such as electric vehicles and bikes. You can insulate your house/apartment with noise-absorbing materials. Even doing your housework at reasonable times reduces noise pollution. Writing a letter or sending an email to the government and giving ideas on how they can help reduce noise pollution would be very helpful.

What I Learned/Questions I Still Have

I learned that noise pollution isn't just an annoying thing; it can cause health problems. Some questions I still have is: How do noise-absorbing materials work? Is it like sound-proofing your home?

Referenced Sites

Guide on Submitting Idea to Government