The Unbearable Menace - Airport Noise JamesMcCarroll 1972

Director : James McCarroll, M. D. Editor : Peter A. Breysse, M.S., M.P.H. Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. 1972 Volume 20, Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12 THE UN BEARABLE MENACE -- AIRPORT NOISE No i se, defined as unwanted sound, surrounds the urban dwel ler in a never-ending excessive and gradually increasing di n of decibels. No one is exposed more i ntolerably than the citizen who resides in close proximity to a major airport. Exposure of humans to noise can result in both mental and physical dis tress. Wh ile the most noticeabl e effect of no ise expos ure involves the hearing mechanism, certa in noises may result in non-auditory distress such as alterations in respiration, circul ation, basa l metabo li c rate , and muscle t ension . These physi cal effects are primarily re la ted to intensity and frequency of the offending sound. Equally important and very likely more import ant than the physical manifesta tions are the possib l e psychologic effects. Psycholog ic reactions involve a muHipli city of factors which vary vvith the character istics of the sound-- the inappropriateness of the stimulus, unexpectedness of the noi se , interference with speech coffimun i cation, and intermi ttancy , as well as its intensity and frequency. The quality of the noise rather thar the quantity is usually the deciding factor i n influencing the emotiona l reactions to noise. No doubt the most widespread reaction to no ise is that of annoya…

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