We realized years ago that constant noise affects our mental health. It was only recently, however, that the World Health Organization published a report on the physical fallout of living in a loud atmosphere. This goes beyond hearing implications; WHO even went as far as to point to heart problems that may derive from coping with noises our bodies weren’t meant to handle.
We’d like to think maybe we can help cut down on the constant barrage of blaring sounds barreling down our ear canals, but the options the organization gives just aren’t feasible for most areas. Who can afford to repave the roads with high-pore surfaces to muffle the sound of a rumbling semi? While we are tempted to walk around with a pair of earplugs in, we have to remember that there’s a reason our ears are so sensitive to noise: safety.
WHO also proposed that people turn to much quieter hybrid cars in the interest of saving our ears, but there have already been problems with people not noticing the sound of an approaching hybrid. The problem was a large enough issue that car companies began adding noise to their vehicles to give pedestrians an opportunity to avoid accidents.
After looking over the report, we wonder if there is any reasonable way cut down on the huge noise dosage we receive every day we set foot on campus, not to mention during the weekends.
