blog 7.2 airport noise and the environment

It's as obvious as orange juice is the color orange (thanks CPT. Obvious), aircraft make a ton of noise, and when a large number of aircraft are at one airport in operation at once, that noise becomes louder and disrupt the local communities in the area. Noise presents a great risk to airport managers and must be mitigated, or face fines and or airport closures.

What is noise?

Noise, defined by Merriam-Webster, is any sound that is undesired or interferes with one's hearing of something (Marriam-Webster, 2020).

How does airport noise affect local communities?

High levels of noise can affect an individuals' hearing and prolonged exposure to high noise level can lead to hearing damage and even hearing loss. Airport noise can also interfere with the daily activities of local communities. According to the European Commission, airport noise pollution can increase blood pressure, your chance of a stroke, and your chances of coronary heart disease. High noise levels can also have negative effects on children of the local community. A study conducted in 1980 on the impact of airport noise on children showed that children living near LAX had higher blood pressure than those who lived further away due to the noise pollution. Another study conducted in 2005 found that kids living near airports in Britain, Holland, and Spain lagged behind their fellow classmates in reading by two months for every 5-decibel increase in the average noise level.