Background: Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a range of adverse health outcomes due to
noise exposure, including heart disease and hearing loss. Reducing environmental noise pollution
is achievable and consistent with national prevention goals, yet there is no national plan to reduce
environmental noise pollution.
Objectives: We aimed to describe some of the most serious health effects associated with noise,
summarize exposures from several highly prevalent noise sources based on published estimates as
well as extrapolations made using these estimates, and lay out proven mechanisms and strategies to
reduce noise by incorporating scientific insight and technological innovations into existing public
health infrastructure.
Discussion: We estimated that 104 million individuals had annual LEQ(24) levels > 70 dBA (equivalent
to a continuous average exposure level of >70 dBA over 24 hr) in 2013 and were at risk of noiseinduced
hearing loss. Tens of millions more may be at risk of heart disease, and other noise-related
health effects. Direct regulation, altering the informational environment, and altering the built environment
are the least costly, most logistically feasible, and most effective noise reduction interventions.
Conclusion: Significant public health benefit can be achieved by integrating interventions that
reduce environmental noise levels and exposures into the federal public health agenda.
Citation: Hammer MS, Swinburn TK, Neitzel RL. 2014. Environmental noise pollution in
the United States: developing an effective public health response. Environ Health Perspect