Noise and its effect on human being--a review.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Acoustics

Background:

• Noise pollution is a recognized environmental health issue in developed countries, but often neglected in developing regions.
• The impact of noise on human well-being is complex, with research yielding conflicting results due to numerous influencing factors.
• Individual and situational variations in response to identical noise levels complicate direct effect assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and highlight global research on the detrimental effects of noise pollution on human health.
• To underscore the need for greater attention to noise pollution, particularly in underserved regions.
• To discuss the challenges in quantifying noise pollution's impact due to subjective human responses.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific studies on noise pollution and human health effects.
• Analysis of research methodologies and findings from various global studies.
• Examination of different indices used to quantify subjective noise responses.

Main Results:

• Noise pollution has demonstrable harmful effects on human beings, though specific impacts vary.
• Subjective human responses to noise are highly variable, influenced by location and context.
• Existing research highlights the need for standardized methods to assess noise pollution's health impacts.

Conclusions:

• Noise pollution is a pervasive environmental health concern requiring global attention.
• Further research is needed to standardize the measurement and assessment of noise pollution's effects.
• Addressing noise pollution is crucial for improving public health, especially in developing countries.