After years of living out in the country (the woods, to be more exact), I have become a silence freak. I am protective of the silence I cherish, not only for myself, but for the peace of mind of our bed and breakfast guests who come here specifically for quiet. On still mornings in the spring when my morning meditation is interrupted by the leaf blowers starting up nearby, my blood pressure begins to rise (the opposite effect that I am trying to achieve by meditating!). It seems the home-owners on this point of land feel it imperative to remove the leaves from around their cottages. They used to employ the disabled people from the Grand Traverse Project to rake the leaves. I enjoyed seeing them hard at work; it made me happy that these folks were employed and that they could enjoy these beautiful surroundings. Then leaf blowers were invented, and someone calculated that one "leaf raker hour" was worth one and a half "leaf blower hours", so the switch was made for economic reasons. The other noise that invades our space here is the noise of personal watercraft and other motorboats, which are referred to as "cigarette boats". My husband, Bob, has taken to hopping in the car and zipping over to the boat launching ramp across the harbor to try to get registration numbers off boats that we consider over the decibel limit.
With all the serious pollution threats to work on, it's always seemed a bit frivolous to worry about noise pollution. After all, once the noise stops, the pollution is gone, with no lasting effects. Right? Wrong! I was pleased to come across a newsletter put out by the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin called Lake Tides. In their fall 1998 issue, there is an article about noise pollution. It addresses the problems caused by excessive noise and some practical and legal solutions. The following is an excerpt from the article, entitled Silence is Golden:
"The term noise is derived from the Latin word for "nausea" meaning seasickness. The sounds of our world can be beautiful and enlightening, but when does sound turn to noise? Noise is among the most pervasive pollutants of our times. Unwanted sounds, unnatural sounds and overwhelming sounds can become noise. The noise from leaf blowers, chain saws, boom boxes, personal watercraft, and many other unwanted sounds are routinely broadcast into the air. The technology of sound reproduction has advanced to the point that speakers can faithfully reproduce music at 120 decibels (at 120dB your ears begin to hurt and there is a risk of hearing loss). The allure of noisy recreational activities seems to be greater now than it was a decade ago.Tragedy of the Commons
The air through which second hand noise travels is a public "commons," used by all but belonging to no one and everyone. The Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, based in Montpelier, Vermont, believes that people do not have unlimited rights to broadcast noise as they please, as if the effect of noise was limited only to their private property. People who disregard the obligation to not interfere with others' use and enjoyment of the commons by producing unnecessary noise are like schoolyard bullies.Unwanted sound, "noise," is one type of pollution that disappears when the source is shut off. But noise can have long-lasting effects. Exposure to loud sounds can have a harmful impact on hearing. Annoying and loud sounds can also speed up your pulse, respiratory rates and increase stress. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recommends a maximum sound level of 55dB for parks and residential neighborhoods. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes noise as "a major threat to human well being." WHO also recommends 55dB for residential neighborhoods. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends certain limits to exposure. This means your exposure to 100dB should be less than 85 seconds per day.
Noise can also impact wildlife. Disturbances range from mild, such as an increase in heart rate, to more damaging effects on metabolism and hormone balance. Panic and escape behavior results from more severe disturbances."
--Lake Tides: College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin, 1900 Franklin St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; vol. 23, Issue 4
I visited the web site of The Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, http://www.nonoise.org, and was impressed by the information available there. Here is the group's stated purpose:
• Raise awareness about noise pollution
• Create, collect, and distribute information and resources regarding noise pollution
• Strengthen laws and governmental efforts to control noise pollution
• Establish networks among environmental, professional, medical, governmental, and activist groups working on noise pollution issues
• Assist activists working against noise pollution
They have resources for helping to fight a noise pollution problem and report on legislative victories for limiting noise pollution. They can also be reached toll-free at: 1-888-200-8332.
Excessive noise is a threat to our inner peace and well-being and I believe it is a serious pollution problem for that reason. Be aware of the noises you generate and make sure they are necessary. And, challenge your neighbors (peacefully) when their noise is threatening the peace and quiet of the commons.
May Peace (and Quiet) Prevail on Earth!