The very expensive price of noise pollution

Even the sound of music can be unpleasant when it irritates the ear. A cacophony of sounds surrounds us day and night, be they from vehicular or air traffic, noise nuisances emanating from entertainment venues, construction sites, from the neighbourhood, fireworks, consumer product noise or that transmitted between dwellings. In a small island such as this, such noise pollution becomes a health hazard.

In a report entitled Community Noise – Environmental Health Criteria, WHO lists the negative results of noise as disturbance of sleep, auditory or physiological effects (basically cardiovascular), and interference with communication, impairing heavily the quality of life, considering that repeated noise can gradually but permanently damage hearing and that very loud noise can cause permanent damage immediately. Research has also examined the effects of noise on the physiological systems of stress and the possible ways this might impact the immune system.

In 1993, the European Commission had set noise abatement targets and, through a Green Paper, launched a programme leading to a general noise policy and the reduction of emissions at source. This eventually led to Directive 2002/49/EC governing the assessment and management of environmental noise. The approach is based on using common methods to map noise, to provide information to the public and implementing action plans at local level, under the responsibility of the competent authority in each member state.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority – responsible for environmental enforcement – is the competent authority for the so-called END (Environment Noise Directive). It is evaluating tenders for the drawing up of 3D maps of Malta and Gozo. It has also initiated an action plan and a modelling system to monitor noise and has launched a draft Noise Action Plan that is now up for public consultation. Mepa stresses that this plan mainly focuses on environmental noise caused by major roads as identified by the END. Other environmental noise nuisances are, therefore, not being taken in consideration, despite the fact that some far exceed the noise levels emanating from major roads. This project is scheduled to be completed by 2013.

Mitigation measures “may then be put forward to the relevant departments and fund holders to be incorporated within their future plan” although “it is important to note that these actions are subject to availability of funding and human resources”.

The fact that the monitoring and enforcing of such regulations are not to be done by the competent authority itself can lead to conclusions that the exercise Mepa has embarked upon may well end up with a big bang and a lot of smoke. This attitude might justify those critics who accuse Mepa of drawing up conditions but then leave their enforcement up to the same entities such conditions are imposed upon. A case in point is the dredging works conditions Mepa has drawn up in connection with the Freeport extensions but which the Public Health Department is expected to ensure are observed!

But, to get back to the point at issue, turning a deaf ear to the cacophony of daily noises can, in the short run, lead to one not hearing the clear messages transmitted by the people, the end sufferers, even if, at times, such messages are very silent. The consequences of noise on the quality of life and on public health are rarely talked about, despite the fact that they are widely recognised as having a negative impact.

The sound of those silent messages may well be deafening and ignoring it can have a heavy economic and social cost.