The report, released by Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency (EEA), further warns that the external costs of noise in the European Union account for at least 0.35 per cent of its GDP, but much higher values may be found as new findings become available.
The EEA also estimated that environmental noise caused up to 10,000 premature deaths in Europe every year and more than 900,000 cases of hypertension could be traced to noise. Nearly eight million people complained of insomnia and another 20 million reported feeling “vexation” at noise pollution. The EEA findings also brought into spotlight that while Iceland, Malta, Luxembourg and Germany were the quietest of all the other places, Belgium and Bulgaria had urban areas with the highest percentages of people subjected to high levels of road noise.
No compliance to rules in India
In India, despite the government having set certain guidelines to manage noise pollution, the impact of increasing levels of noise pollution is very evident nationwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier made estimates that nearly six per cent suffer from hearing loss in India. According to a few recent records, the noisiest area in southern Chennai, Guindy, is at 107—nearly as loud as timpani and bass drum rolls. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) declared that residential zones cannot exceed noise limit of 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels during night hours. What takes a toll on the hearing ability of people is the festive season. In 2010, a noise of 111 decibels was recorded in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi by the Mumbai Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Just like air pollution, level of noise pollution is also found to be on a rise in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It was recently argued in the Lok Sabha that the designated officials have to ensure maintenance of ambient air quality and provide authorities with adequate instruments to measure the level of noise. Ambient air quality refers to the quality of outdoor air in our surrounding environment. It is typically measured near ground level, away from direct sources of pollution.
— source downtoearth.org.in