
Making Noise About Noise Pollution
Researchers at the University of Michigan and the Network for Public Health Law would like to change public policy when it comes to noise pollution. In an article published recently in Environmental Health Perspectives, the authors argue that noise in everyday life not only poses a threat to hearing, but is also associated with general health problems such as sleep disturbance, stress, hypertension, heart disease, and even injuries. They call for noise to be included in federal and state public health agendas and offer recommendations for managing noise that currently impacts millions of Americans. "I can't think of any other environmental hazard that affects so many people and yet is so ignored," says Rick Neitzel, assistant professor of environmental health science at MU.