The unbearable menace — airport noise

A 1972 University of Washington environmental health report examines the serious physical and psychological effects of aircraft noise on residents living near Seattle-Tacoma Airport. On-site measurements recorded up to 95 dBA indoors, with hundreds of daily flyovers exceeding 75 dBA—levels shown by research to disrupt sleep, impair children's school performance, and pose long-term mental and physical health risks. The report also highlights how excessive ambient noise in nearby schools interferes with speech comprehension and the learning process.

Notes

A 1972 newsletter from the University of Washington Department of Environmental Health examining the health effects of airport noise, including physical and psychological impacts, sleep disturbance, and interference with speech in schools. The document includes findings from noise surveys conducted near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, reporting on flyover counts, decibel levels, and their implications for residents and children.

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