Editing Noise pollution (section)

==Legal status and regulation==
{{Main|Noise regulation}}

===Country-specific regulations===
Up until the 1970s governments tended to view noise as a "nuisance" rather than an environmental problem.

Many conflicts over noise pollution are handled by negotiation between the emitter and the receiver. Escalation procedures vary by country, and may include action in conjunction with local authorities, in particular the police.

====Egypt====
In 2007, the Egyptian National Research Center found that the average noise level in central Cairo was 90&nbsp;decibels and that the noise never fell below 70&nbsp;decibels. Noise limits set by law in 1994 are not enforced.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2008-01-26|title=Cairo cacophony: Noise pollution 'kills in much the same way as chronic stress'|url=https://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Middle-East/2008/Jan-26/76240-cairo-cacophony-noise-pollution-kills-in-much-the-same-way-as-chronic-stress.ashx|access-date=2020-09-20|journal=The Daily Star|archive-date=2021-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812043207/https://www.dailystar.com.lb//News/Middle-East/2008/Jan-26/76240-cairo-cacophony-noise-pollution-kills-in-much-the-same-way-as-chronic-stress.ashx|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the World Hearing Index declared Cairo to be the world's second-noisiest city.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-14|title=Cairo ranked second noisiest city in the world|url=https://egyptindependent.com/cairo-ranked-second-noisiest-city-world/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=Egypt Independent|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731175419/https://www.egyptindependent.com/cairo-ranked-second-noisiest-city-world/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====India====
Noise pollution is a major problem in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/freedom-from-noise-pollution-will-be-true-independence-comment-special-to-ians-116082900219_1.html |title=Freedom from noise pollution will be true independence (Comment: Special to IANS)|last=IANS|date=29 August 2016|newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=31 August 2016|archive-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908051614/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/freedom-from-noise-pollution-will-be-true-independence-comment-special-to-ians-116082900219_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The government of India has rules and regulations against [[firecrackers]] and loudspeakers, but enforcement is extremely lax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cpcb.nic.in/faq.php|title=Central Pollution Control Board: FAQs |publisher=Indian Central Pollution Control Board|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702175933/http://cpcb.nic.in/faq.php|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Awaaz Foundation]] is a non-governmental organization in India working to control noise pollution from various sources through advocacy, public interest litigation, awareness, and educational campaigns since 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Rising-festival-noise-undoing-past-efforts/Article1-939539.aspx |title=Rising festival noise undoing past efforts' |access-date=2012-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517052450/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Rising-festival-noise-undoing-past-efforts/Article1-939539.aspx |archive-date=2013-05-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite increased enforcement and stringency of laws now being practiced in urban areas, rural areas are still affected.<ref name="Green Tribunal, NDTV">{{cite web | title = Strictly Adhere To Supreme Court Guidelines On Noise Pollution | work = Green Tribunal, NDTV | url = https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/strictly-adhere-to-supreme-court-guidelines-on-noise-pollution-green-tribunal-1253453 | access-date = 2018-03-21 | archive-date = 2018-03-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192526/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/strictly-adhere-to-supreme-court-guidelines-on-noise-pollution-green-tribunal-1253453 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The Supreme Court of India had banned playing of music on loudspeakers after 10&nbsp;p.m. In 2015, The National Green Tribunal directed authorities in Delhi to ensure strict adherence to guidelines on noise pollution, saying noise is more than just a nuisance as it can produce serious psychological stress. However, implementation of the law remains poor.<ref name="Green Tribunal, NDTV"/>

====Sweden====
How noise emissions should be reduced, without the industry being hit too hard, is a major problem in environmental care in Sweden today. The [[Swedish Work Environment Authority]] has set an input value of 80&nbsp;dB for maximum sound exposure for eight hours. In workplaces where there is a need to be able to converse comfortably the background noise level should not exceed 40&nbsp;dB.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.av.se/globalassets/filer/publikationer/foreskrifter/buller-foreskrifter-afs2005-16.pdf#page=15|title=Arbetsmiljövärkets Författningssamling|access-date=2019-05-09|language=sv|archive-date=2020-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615030817/https://www.av.se/globalassets/filer/publikationer/foreskrifter/buller-foreskrifter-afs2005-16.pdf#page=15|url-status=live}}</ref> The government of Sweden has taken [[soundproofing]] and acoustic [[Absorption (acoustics)|absorbing]] actions, such as [[noise barrier]]s and [[active noise control]].

====United Kingdom====
Figures compiled by rockwool, the [[mineral wool]] [[Building insulation|insulation]] manufacturer, based on responses from local authorities to a [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information Act]] (FOI) request reveal in the period April 2008 – 2009 [[county council|UK councils]] received 315,838 complaints about noise pollution from private residences. This resulted in environmental health officers across the UK serving 8,069 [[noise abatement]] notices or citations under the terms of the Anti-Social Behavior (Scotland) Act. In the last 12 months, 524 confiscations of equipment have been authorized involving the removal of powerful speakers, stereos and televisions. [[Westminster City Council]] has received more complaints per head of population than any other district in the UK with 9,814 grievances about noise, which equates to 42.32 complaints per thousand residents. Eight of the top 10 councils ranked by complaints per 1,000 residents are located in [[London]].<ref>
{{cite news
 |title       = London is home to the noisiest neighbours
 |url         = http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23714071-details/London+is+home+to+the+noisiest+neighbours/article.do
 |newspaper   = [[London Evening Standard]]
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130114032609/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23714071-details/London+is+home+to+the+noisiest+neighbours/article.do
 |archive-date = 2013-01-14
}}</ref>

====United States====
The [[Noise Control Act]] of 1972 established a U.S. national policy to promote an environment for all Americans free from noise that jeopardizes their health and welfare. In the past, [[Environmental Protection Agency]] coordinated all federal noise control activities through its Office of Noise Abatement and Control. The [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] phased out the office's funding in 1982 as part of a shift in federal noise control policy to transfer the primary responsibility of regulating noise to state and local governments. However, the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 were never rescinded by Congress and remain in effect today, although essentially unfunded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/history/epa-history-noise-and-noise-control-act|title=EPA History: Noise and the Noise Control Act|publisher=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency|year=1982|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416182126/https://www.epa.gov/history/epa-history-noise-and-noise-control-act|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] (NIOSH) at the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) researches noise exposure in occupational settings and recommends a [[Recommended exposure limit|Recommended Exposure Limit]] (REL) for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) or work shift of 85&nbsp;dB(A) and for impulse noise (instant events such as bangs or crashes) of 140&nbsp;dB(A).<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":14" /> The agency published this recommendation along with its origin, noise measurement devices, hearing loss prevention programs, and research needs in 1972 (later revised June 1998) as an approach in preventing occupational noise-related hearing loss.<ref name=":14" />

The [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) within the [[United States Department of Labor|Department of Labor]] issues enforceable standards to protect workers from occupational noise hazards. The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise is a TWA of 90&nbsp;dB(A) for an eight-hour work day.<ref name=":23" /><ref name=":15">{{Cite web|title=Occupational Noise Exposure - Overview {{!}} Occupational Safety and Health Administration|url=https://www.osha.gov/noise#loud|access-date=2020-11-30|website=www.osha.gov|archive-date=2020-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129114341/https://www.osha.gov/noise#loud|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in manufacturing and service industries, if the TWA is greater than 85&nbsp;dB(A), employers must implement a [[Hearing conservation program|Hearing Conservation Program]].<ref name=":15" />

The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) regulates [[aircraft noise]] by specifying the maximum noise level that individual civil aircraft can emit through requiring aircraft to meet certain noise certification standards. These standards designate changes in maximum noise level requirements by "stage" designation. The U.S. noise standards are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 14 Part 36 – Noise Standards: Aircraft Type and Airworthiness Certification (14 CFR Part 36).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/22942|title=C 36-1H – Noise Levels for U.S. Certificated and Foreign Aircraft|publisher=U.S. Federal Aviation Administration|date=Nov 15, 2001|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326201108/https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/22942|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] also pursues a program of aircraft noise control in cooperation with the aviation community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/|title=Aircraft Noise Issues|publisher=U.S. Federal Aviation Administration|date=Jan 9, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110122305/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/|url-status=live}}</ref> The FAA has set up a process to report for anyone who may be impacted by aircraft noise.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/noise/ | title = Aviation-related noise complaints | publisher = U.S. Federal Aviation Administration | access-date = 2018-07-27 | archive-date = 2018-07-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180728002912/https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/noise/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

The [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA) developed noise regulations to control [[Roadway noise|highway noise]] as required by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970. The regulations requires promulgation of traffic noise-level criteria for various land use activities, and describe procedures for the abatement of highway traffic noise and construction noise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/|title=Highway Traffic Noise|publisher=Federal Highway Administration|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=April 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401083211/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|Department of Housing and Urban Development]] (HUD) noise standards as described in 24 CFR part 51, Subpart B provides minimum national standards applicable to HUD programs to protect citizen against excessive noise in their communities and places of residence. For instance, all sites whose environmental or community noise exposure exceeds the day night average sound level (DNL) of 65 (dB) are considered noise-impacted areas, it defines "Normally Unacceptable" noise zones where community noise levels are between 65 and 75&nbsp;dB, for such locations, noise abatement and noise attenuation features must be implemented. Locations where the DNL is above 75&nbsp;dB are considered "Unacceptable" and require approval by the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/noise-abatement-and-control/|title=Noise Abatement and Control|publisher=US Department of Housing and Urban Development|date=April 1, 2013|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211607/https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/noise-abatement-and-control/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]]'s Bureau of Transportation Statistics has created a to provide access to comprehensive aircraft and road noise data on national and county levels.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = U.S. Department of Transportation | url = https://maps.bts.dot.gov/arcgis/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a303ff5924c9474790464cc0e9d5c9fb | title = National Transportation Noise Map | access-date = 2018-07-27 | archive-date = 2018-01-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180121193525/https://maps.bts.dot.gov/arcgis/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a303ff5924c9474790464cc0e9d5c9fb | url-status = live }}</ref> The map aims to assist city planners, elected officials, scholars, and residents to gain access to up-to-date aviation and Interstate highway noise information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transportation.gov/highlights/national-transportation-noise-map|title=National Transportation Noise Map|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|date=Mar 28, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326201108/https://www.transportation.gov/highlights/national-transportation-noise-map|url-status=live}}</ref>

States and local governments typically have very specific statutes on [[building codes]], [[urban planning]], and roadway development. Noise laws and ordinances vary widely among municipalities and indeed do not even exist in some cities. An ordinance may contain a general prohibition against making noise that is a nuisance, or it may set out specific guidelines for the level of noise allowable at certain times of the day and for certain activities.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nonoise.org/lawlib.htm |title=Noise Pollution Clearinghouse Law Library |publisher = Noise Pollution Clearinghouse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980611020207/http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib.htm |archive-date=1998-06-11 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 29, 2018 }}</ref> Noise laws classify sound into three categories. First is ambient noise, which refers to sound pressure of all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment. The second is continuous noise, which could be steady or fluctuating, but continues for more than an hour. The third is cyclically varying noise, which could be steady or fluctuating, but occurs repetitively at reasonably uniform intervals of time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Borough of Brielle, NJ: NOISE CONTROL. |url=https://ecode360.com/36068456 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Borough of Brielle, NJ Code |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[New York City]] instituted the first comprehensive noise code in 1985. The [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] Noise Code includes potential fines of up to $5000 per infraction and is the basis for other major U.S. and Canadian city noise ordinances.<ref>{{cite web | work = Auditor's Office | publisher = City of Portland, Oregon | url = http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28705 | title = Chapter 18.02 Title ''Noise Control | access-date = April 20, 2009 | archive-date = July 15, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715110053/http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28705 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===World Health Organization===

====European Region====
In 1995, the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) European Region released guidelines on regulating community noise.<ref name=":02" /> The WHO European Region subsequently released other versions of the guidelines, with the most recent version circulated in 2018.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|last=WHO Regional Office for Europe|date=2018|title=Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region|url=https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/environmental-noise-guidelines-for-the-european-region-2018|access-date=2020-11-30|archive-date=2020-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213045618/https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/environmental-noise-guidelines-for-the-european-region-2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The guidelines provide the most up-to-date evidence from research conducted in Europe and other parts of the world on non-occupational noise exposure and its relationship to physical and mental health outcomes. The guidelines provide recommendations for limits and preventive measures regarding various noise sources (road traffic, railway, aircraft, wind turbine) for day-evening-night average and nighttime average levels. Recommendations for leisure noise in 2018 were conditional and based on the equivalent sound pressure level during an average 24-hour period in a year without weights for nighttime noise (LA<sub>eq, 24&nbsp;hrs</sub>); WHO set the recommended limit to 70&nbsp;dB(A).<ref name=":16" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+2018 WHO European Regional Office Environmental Noise Guidelines<ref name=":16" /> 
!Noise Source
!Recommendation for 
Day-Evening-Night Average Level (L<sub>den</sub>)
!Recommendation for 
Nighttime Average Noise (L<sub>night</sub>)
|-
|Road traffic
|53&nbsp;dB(A)
|45&nbsp;dB(A)
|-
|Rail
|54&nbsp;dB(A)
|44&nbsp;dB(A)
|-
|Aircraft
|45&nbsp;dB(A)
|40&nbsp;dB(A)
|-
|Wind turbine
|45&nbsp;dB(A)
|no recommendation
|}