Noise Pollution Management Issues in Tirana, the Capital of Albania
Dorina Pojani
(Assist. Prof. Dr. Dorina Pojani, Epoka University, Rr. Tirane-Rinas, Km 12, Tirana, Albania, dpojani@epoka.edu.al)
1 ABSTRACT
On average, Tirana’s population is exposed to daytime noise levels higher than 70 dB and nighttime noise
levels higher than 55 dB. These levels are relatively high for Europe. This paper relates the results of a
research project conducted in 2011 on the impact of noise on residents’ comfort in two mixed-use
neighborhoods in the city, and on public measures to abate the negative impacts of noise. This research
found that, although noise presents a problem for exposed residents, to date public measures to abate noise
levels have been very limited. Some of the negative noise impacts are due to Tirana’s high density physical
development pattern and laissez-faire zoning regulations, which permit noise-generating uses in residential
neighborhoods. However, the author argues that the main factor is the institutional context for addressing
problems related to noise, which is highly adverse to the generation of solutions, and the political culture,
which dominates the government structures and the institutional forms. The weak “soundscape” management
reflects larger issues of urban governance in Tirana.
2 INTRODUCTION
This paper sets forth the results of a research project conducted in the spring of 2011 on the impact of noise
on residents’ comfort in two neighborhoods in Tirana, the capital of Albania. In addition, the paper addresses
the institutional context and public measures to abate the negative impacts of noise.
To place the noise problem in perspective, during communism Albanian cities were generally quiet, due to
the absence of private cars, the dearth of entertainment and commercial services, and the peripheral location
of industrial activities. However, by the mid-1990s noise levels in Tirana were already at the threshold
ceilings recommended by the World Health Organization. This increase was particularly shocking in a
country that had no private cars and few buses until 1990. Now, on average, Tirana’s population is exposed
to daytime noise levels higher than 70 dB and nighttime noise levels higher than 55 dB. Noise levels in
Tirana are shown in Table 1.Overall, almost two-thirds of the Albanian population is exposed to noise levels
higher than 65 dB. These levels are relatively high for Europe.
Research indicates that the majority of Tirana’s daytime noise is due to motorized traffic. The noise emitted
by vehicles is intensified due to: idling at malfunctioning traffic lights; drivers who impatiently hunk horns
while stuck in traffic or to greet acquaintances; truck traffic within the urban area; traffic generated by youth
looking to pass the time; severe shortage of parking places which increases “hunting” traffic; and the poor
condition of vehicles. Other factors contributing to high noise levels, unrelated to transport, are the high
volume of construction and individual diesel power generators (that many shops and restaurants use in case
of power cuts) during the day, and bar and club music at night (Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and
Water 2007; Institute of Public Health 2006; Cicolli 2008).
The desire to meet requirements for European Union membership is forcing legislative and administrative
action in favor of environmental protection. In 2007, Albania passed a law on noise pollution management,
which is based on similar legislation in Europe (Law on the Assessment and Management of Noise Pollution,
No. 9774, 12 July 2007). The law requires the establishment of noise limits in urban areas, including noise
limits for various activities and transport vehicles. The responsibility for the enforcement of this law is
shared among national ministries - the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Water, and the Ministry of
Table 1: Noise levels in Tirana. *Average of measurements in 15 locations in Tirana. Source: Albanian Institute of Public Health
2006, World Health Organization 1999.
3 CONSIDERATION OF NOISE POLLUTION IMPACTS IN WESTERN COUNTRIES: A BRIEF
LITERATURE REVIEW
The levels of environmental noise vary for a substantial part of the world population, especially in areas with
a dense population and dense transportation networks. It is estimated that in the European Union during
daytime approximately 77 million people (22% of the total EU population in 1994) are exposed to
transportation noise levels exceeding 65 dB, a level that many countries consider to be unacceptable
(Miedema 2007).
Environmental noise, like other forms of pollution, has wide-ranging adverse health, social, and economic
effects. Numerous studies on the adverse health effects of noise, many of recent vintage, have been published
- for a comprehensive overview, see Miedema (2007) and Goines and Hagles (2007). It has been found that
noise interferes with behavior, including communication and concentrated activity, or desired states, such as
relaxation and sleep. Noise exposure can lead to acute stress responses and/or chronic stress, and can even
lead to cardio-vascular and mental health disturbances.
In terms of urban planning, noise has been found to interfere with home values and the cost of building and
operating new construction. In US-based post-occupancy surveys, the acoustic environment, specifically the
lack of adequate speech privacy and control of noise levels, has been a major complaint with respect to the
ability to carry out work tasks (Jenson et al. 2005). A study conducted in Holland (Nijland et al. 2007)
suggested that noise-sensitive people are less satisfied with their living environment and are more willing to
move than others. Another study investigating the combined effects of noise and temperature on human
thermal comfort and task performance found that thermal comfort was affected by noise levels, while ratings
of building or office noise were not affected by the ambient temperature (Tiller et al. 2010).
Being able to cope with daily noise is important for human well-being and health. The effects of
environmental noise depend on acoustical characteristics of the noise (e.g., loudness, time pattern), and on
aspects of the noise situation that may involve cognitive processing, such as expectations regarding the
future development of the noise exposure (whether will it get better or worse), lack of short-term
predictability, and a feeling of lack of control over the source of the noise. People differ in their appraisal of
noise situations and in their coping style (Cohen and Weinstein 1981).
However, environmental noise is not only a personal matter, but also a societal problem that is beyond the
control of most individuals. Unfortunately, noise is still considered a relatively minor form of pollution and
public awareness on its negative effects is lower than for air pollution.
4 RESEARCH CONTEXT AND APPROACH
This research project included door-to-door surveys of 100 households, conducted in the spring of 2011.
Female, middle-aged, and well-educated individuals were slightly overrepresented in the surveys. Most
respondents were long-term Tirana residents, and had lived in their present dwelling for over a decade.