For the first time in our country, citizen research into outdoor noise is being conducted on a large scale. From today, citizens can take measurements themselves via an app. Noise pollution can lead to stress, increased blood pressure, illness and even death. “Noise volumes have been increasing for decades.”
In the Netherlands we measure a lot. Air quality, water quality, traffic, to give three random examples. However, noise is measured in only a very limited number of places. There are noise maps, but they are drawn up on the basis of calculations and a small number of measurements. “That doesn’t give you a good idea of how people experience noise pollution.”
These are the words of Erik Roelofsen from the Dutch Noise Pollution Foundation. Together with eleven other organizations, it is therefore launching a large-scale study into sounds outside the house. Samen Meenen from the RIVM and TU Eindhoven, among others, are affiliated with this project, called Sounding Board.
Measure yourself
The intention is that as many citizens as possible will take noise measurements outdoors this Wednesday and in the coming months. This can be done via the Sounding Board app specially created for this purpose. Anyone who accepts the privacy conditions can take multiple noise measurements at a location of their choice. This will be followed by a survey about the sound experience. The personal data will not be shared, only the location will be made public to the researchers. This concerns the rough location, not an exact address.
Recent research shows that roughly 40 percent of Dutch people experience noise pollution. From busy roads, from airplanes or from companies and schoolyards, where nowadays one of the groups has a break almost all day long. But there are also newer causes, such as noise from poorly installed heat pumps and wind turbines.
Surrounded by noise
“A lot has improved in recent years, such as environmental measures. In terms of noise, it has actually gotten worse, as is evident from the periodic reports from GGD and RIVM, among others,” says Roelofsen, who lives in the municipality of Heerde. “People are surrounded by noise in the vast majority of places in our country.”
And that is not without danger, as the World Health Organization (WHO) also confirms. Long-term exposure to noise can cause stress and high blood pressure. And that can lead to cardiovascular disease and even death. “Yet no GP asks a patient with problems or who is bothered by noise,” says Roelofsen. “It is therefore a bit of an invisible problem.”
Where’s the noise?
The Sounding Board study should provide clarity about where which sound can be heard and also how people experience that sound. Citizens can measure on April 24 (and also the period after) via the app. The measurements stream in ‘live’ to the RIVM’s Measuring Together portal. The investigation itself will take several months.
The aim is that municipalities can use the information to reduce citizens’ exposure to noise. Roelofsen; “The noise policy is forty years old. We want legislation and regulations to take into account not only noise levels, but also what is perceived as a nuisance.”
Every Dutch person with a smartphone can participate in the study. The app can be downloaded for free from the National Noise Measurement Day website.
Unfortunately, we cannot show this social post, live blog or otherwise because it contains one or more social media elements. Accept the social media cookies to still show this content.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
