Sensitivity to unwanted sound is known to increase when environmental noise is high-pitched.

Traffic-related noise accounts for over one million healthy years of life lost annually to ill health, disability or early death in Western countries- Anne Zammit

This may explain why the annoying whine of air-conditioners on Arriva buses has driven residents in Paola to file a judicial protest in court. Even the swish of hydraulic doors opening at a bus stop seems to be causing some disturbance.

The degree to which noise leads to stress, annoyance and disturbance lies partly with the individual, depending on a person’s attitude and sensitivity to noise. They might be able to modify the former but possibly not the latter.

Some of the old bus engines were so loud (although at lower pitch) that it was nearly impossible for passengers to hold a conversation with the person sitting next to them. Many accepted this as a fact of life back then, but attitudes are changing.

Response to noise pollution issues has risen dramatically as evidence of its impact on human health accumulates. Noise causes or contributes to not only annoyance and sleep disturbance but also heart attacks, learning disabilities and tinnitus.

The World Health Organisation regards noise as “an underestimated threat” that can cause a number of health problems. Even at levels below ear-damaging volumes, noise disturbs sleep, affects school performance in children and causes stress reactions. It can lead to cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure and atherosclerosis for those exposed to it on a repeated, long-term basis.

A British-based noise consultancy engaged to report on Malta’s implementation of the environmental noise directive describes a hierarchy of escalating effects which may become acute for some:

“Of a total population exposed to substantial noise, many people will notice it and develop adverse feelings to this. Within a part of this exposed population stress reactions, sleep-stage changes and other biological and biophysical effects may occur. These may in turn increase risk factors like blood pressure.

“For a relatively small part of the population these factors may then develop into clinical symptoms like insomnia and cardiovascular diseases which, as a consequence, can even increase the death rate.”

Traffic noise alone is harming the health of almost every third person in Europe. Traffic-related noise accounts for over one million healthy years of life lost annually to ill health, disability or early death in Western countries of the WHO’s European Region.

Noise has emerged as a leading environmental nuisance and the public generally complains more and more often about excessive noise.

It has been found that cognitive performance in children is reduced at even relatively low environmental noise levels around schools.

A 2002 directive on assessment and management of environmental noise required EU member states to establish action plans to control and reduce the harmful effects of noise exposure.

Within two years, a children’s environment and health action plan for Europe was published, calling for children to be protected from harmful exposure to noise at both home and school.

By 2009, concern was growing over evidence that noise at night can cause hormone level changes and clinical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression and mental illness. Night noise guidelines for Europe were issued by the WHO.

In a study available on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) website, noise consultants Acustica Ltd set out a strategy for the management of environmental noise in Malta, coming up with some interesting observations related to the local scenario:

“The most widespread problem created by noise is annoyance. Annoyance can be defined as a general feeling of displeasure or adverse reaction triggered by the noise. Among the ways it can express itself are fear, mild anger and uncertainty.

“To some extent people frequently exposed to traffic noise develop strategies of adapting and coping with the problem. The problem still remains however: subconscious physical reactions, such as raised blood pressure and levels of annoyance…”

There is currently no national policy or guidance which addresses the issue of noise during planning. In scenarios where new residential properties or other noise sensitive premises are introduced into an existing climate of environmental noise, there is no clear guidance.

Until specific planning guidance on noise is forthcoming from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) or Mepa, the consultants recommend that planning policy guidance similar to that of England or Scotland be adopted in the interim.

At present Mepa is only responsible for fulfilling requirements set out in environmental noise directive regulations. However, the consultant’s view is that it could be possible to extend the noise management zones to cover the entire country, adding that this is a decision for the OPM to take in consultation with Mepa.

“As Mepa is empowered to develop planning policy it is free to determine that any approach to controlling environmental noise may be relevant to the whole country and not restricted only to noise management zones.”

Noise management zones based on urban agglomerations and traffic thresholds cover only a part of the country and a portion of the population.

In the longterm Mepa will need a noise section with several specialists in acoustics and a cross-departmental steering committee charged with a remit to set out design targets and guidelines in order to protect the population from environmental noise.

The consultant’s report also pegs the need for wider collaboration between different licensing teams within Mepa. Longterm objectives would include ensuring that integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) applications are assessed by specialist staff within a noise team, while improving data sets and stakeholder engagement in the medium term alongside expanding institutional capacity.

“There may be a question at present regarding the capacity and experience available within Mepa for such reviews,” says the report. It adds that the first step is to create the procedure, thus providing the noise section with a reason to establish its capability.

Rowdy neighbours and noise from entertainment or in the workplace do not fall under the environmental noise directive.