Noise: Environmental Noise Guidelines

Noise: Environmental Noise Guidelines

Noise has become an important environmental nuisance in the WHO European Region, resulting in increasing complaints from the public.The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe is currently developing the WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region, updating previous guidelines.

The new guidelines will consider evidence on the health effects of environmental noise.  The possible health effects to be considered include:

• sleep disturbance
• annoyance
• cognitive impairment
• mental health and wellbeing
• cardiovascular diseases
• hearing impairment and tinnitus
• adverse birth outcomes

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