Physics:Noise

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Short description: Unwanted sound
NASA researchers at Glenn Research Center measuring aircraft engine noise in 1967

Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arises when the brain receives and perceives a sound.[1][2]

Acoustic noise is any sound in the acoustic domain, either deliberate (e.g., music or speech) or unintended. In contrast, noise in electronics may not be audible to the human ear and may require instruments for detection.[3]

In audio engineering, noise can refer to the unwanted residual electronic noise signal that gives rise to acoustic noise heard as a hiss. This signal noise is commonly measured using A-weighting[4] or ITU-R 468 weighting.[5]

In experimental sciences, noise can refer to any random fluctuations of data that hinders perception of a signal.[6][7]

Measurement

Sound is measured based on the amplitude and frequency of a sound wave. Amplitude measures how forceful the wave is. The energy in a sound wave is measured in decibels (dB), the measure of loudness, or intensity of a sound; this measurement describes the amplitude of a sound wave. Decibels are expressed in a logarithmic scale. On the other hand, pitch describes the frequency of a sound and is measured in hertz (Hz).[8]

The main instrument to measure sounds in the air is the Sound Level Meter. There are many different varieties of instruments that are used to measure noise - Noise Dosimeters are often used in occupational environments, noise monitors are used to measure environmental noise and noise pollution, and recently smartphone-based sound level meter applications (apps)[9] are being used to crowdsource and map recreational and community noise.[10][11][12]

A-weighting is applied to a sound spectrum to represent the sound that humans are capable of hearing at each frequency. Sound pressure is thus expressed in terms of dBA. 0 dBA is the softest level that a person can hear. Normal speaking voices are around 65 dBA. A rock concert can be about 120 dBA.

Recording and reproduction

In audio, recording, and broadcast systems, audio noise refers to the residual low-level sound (four major types: hiss, rumble, crackle, and hum) that is heard in quiet periods of program. This variation from the expected pure sound or silence can be caused by the audio recording equipment, the instrument, or ambient noise in the recording room.[13]

In audio engineering it can refer either to the acoustic noise from loudspeakers or to the unwanted residual electronic noise signal that gives rise to acoustic noise heard as hiss. This signal noise is commonly measured using A-weighting or ITU-R 468 weighting

Noise is often generated deliberately and used as a test signal for audio recording and reproduction equipment.

Environmental noise

Environmental noise is the accumulation of all noise present in a specified environment. The principal sources of environmental noise are surface motor vehicles, aircraft, trains and industrial sources.[14] These noise sources expose millions of people to noise pollution that creates not only annoyance, but also significant health consequences such as elevated incidence of hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, and many others[15][16].[17] Urban noise is generally not of an intensity that causes hearing loss but it interrupts sleep, disturbs communication and interferes with other human activities.[18] There are a variety of mitigation strategies and controls available to reduce sound levels including source intensity reduction, land-use planning strategies, noise barriers and sound baffles, time of day use regimens, vehicle operational controls and architectural acoustics design measures.

Regulation

Certain geographic areas or specific occupations may be at a higher risk of being exposed to constantly high levels of noise; regulation may prevent negative health outcomes. Noise regulation includes statutes or guidelines relating to sound transmission established by national, state or provincial and municipal levels of government. Environmental noise is governed by laws and standards which set maximum recommended levels of noise for specific land uses, such as residential areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty, or schools. These standards usually specify measurement using a weighting filter, most often A-weighting.[19][20]

United States

In 1972, the Noise Control Act was passed to promote a healthy living environment for all Americans, where noise does not pose a threat to human health. This policy's main objectives were: (1) establish coordination of research in the area of noise control, (2) establish federal standards on noise emission for commercial products, and (3) promote public awareness about noise emission and reduction.[21][22]

The Quiet Communities Act of 1978 promotes noise control programs at the state and local level and developed a research program on noise control.[23] Both laws authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to study the effects of noise and evaluate regulations regarding noise control.[24]

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides recommendation on noise exposure in the workplace.[25][26] In 1972 (revised in 1998), NIOSH published a document outlining recommended standards relating to the occupational exposure to noise, with the purpose of reducing the risk of developing permanent hearing loss related to exposure at work.[27] This publication set the recommended exposure limit (REL) of noise in an occupation setting to 85 dBA for 8 hours using a 3-dB exchange rate (every 3-dB increase in level, duration of exposure should be cut in half, i.e., 88 dBA for 4 hours, 91 dBA for 2 hours, 94 dBA for 1 hour, etc.). However, in 1973 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintained the requirement of an 8-hour average of 90 dBA. The following year, OSHA required employers to provide a hearing conservation program to workers exposed to 85 dBA average 8-hour workdays.[28]

Europe

The European Environment Agency regulates noise control and surveillance within the European Union.[29] The Environmental Noise Directive was set to determine levels of noise exposure, increase public access to information regarding environmental noise, and reduce environmental noise.[30][31] Additionally, in the European Union, underwater noise is a pollutant according to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).[32] The MSFD requires EU Member States to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status, meaning that the "introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment".[32]

Health effects

More than a quarter of US residences have average outside noise levels exceeding the maximum nighttime outside noise level recommended by the World Health Organization.[33]
HPD fit testing[34]

Exposure to noise is associated with several negative health outcomes. Depending on duration and level of exposure, noise may cause or increase the likelihood of hearing loss, high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, sleep disturbances, injuries, and even decreased school performance.[35] When noise is prolonged, the body's stress responses can be triggered; which can include increased heartbeat, and rapid breathing.[36] There are also causal relationships between noise and psychological effects such as annoyance, psychiatric disorders, and effects on psychosocial well-being.[35]

Noise exposure has increasingly been identified as a public health issue, especially in an occupational setting, as demonstrated with the creation of NIOSH's Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention program.[37] Noise has also proven to be an occupational hazard, as it is the most common work-related pollutant.[38] Noise-induced hearing loss, when associated with noise exposure at the workplace is also called occupational hearing loss. For example, some occupational studies have shown a relation between those who are regularly exposed to noise above 85 decibels to have higher blood pressure than those who are not exposed.[39][40]

Hearing loss prevention

While noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, it is also preventable.[41] Particularly in the workplace, regulations may exist limiting permissible exposure limit to noise. This can be especially important for professionals working in settings with consistent exposure to loud sounds, such as musicians, music teachers and audio engineers.[42] Examples of measures taken to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in the workplace include engineering noise control, the Buy-Quiet initiative,[43][44] creation of the Safe-In-Sound award, and noise surveillance.[45]

OSHA requires the use of hearing protection. But the HPD (without individual selection, training and fit testing) does not significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss.[46] For example, one study covered more than 19 thousand workers, some of whom usually used hearing protective devices, and some did not use them at all. There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.[47]

Literary views

Roland Barthes distinguishes between physiological noise, which is merely heard, and psychological noise, which is actively listened to. Physiological noise is felt subconsciously as the vibrations of the noise (sound) waves physically interact with the body while psychological noise is perceived as our conscious awareness shifts its attention to that noise.[48]

Luigi Russolo, one of the first composers of noise music,[49] wrote the essay The Art of Noises. He argued that any kind of noise could be used as music, as audiences become more familiar with noises caused by technological advancements; noise has become so prominent that pure sound no longer exists.[50]

Avant-garde composer Henry Cowell claimed that technological advancements have reduced unwanted noises from machines, but have not managed so far to eliminate them.[51]

Felix Urban sees noise as a result of cultural circumstances. In his comparative study on sound and noise in cities, he points out that noise regulations are only one indicator of what is considered as harmful. It is the way in which people live and behave (acoustically) that determines the way how sounds are perceived.[52]

See also


References

  1. ↑ Elert, Glenn. "The Nature of Sound – The Physics Hypertextbook". http://physics.info/sound/. 
  2. ↑ "The Propagation of sound". http://pages.jh.edu/~virtlab/ray/acoustic.htm. 
  3. ↑ "What's The Difference Between Acoustical And Electrical Noise In Components?". 2012-10-03. http://electronicdesign.com/electromechanical/what-s-difference-between-acoustical-and-electrical-noise-components. 
  4. ↑ Richard L. St. Pierre, Jr.; Daniel J. Maguire (July 2004), The Impact of A-weighting Sound Pressure Level Measurements during the Evaluation of Noise Exposure, http://storeycountywindfarms.org/ref3_Impact_Sound_Pressure.pdf, retrieved 2011-09-13 
  5. ↑ "RECOMMENDATION ITU-R BS.468-4 – Measurement of audio-frequency noise voltage". International Telecommunication Union. http://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/bs/R-REC-BS.468-4-198607-I!!PDF-E.pdf. 
  6. ↑ "Definition of NOISE". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noise. 
  7. ↑ "noise: definition of noise in Oxford dictionary (American English) (US)". http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/noise. 
  8. ↑ "Measuring sound". http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/The-Noisy-Reef/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/Measuring-sound. 
  9. ↑ "So How Accurate Are These Smartphone Sound Measurement Apps? | | Blogs | CDC" (in en-us). https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/04/09/sound-apps/. 
  10. ↑ "NoiseScore: A Free Smartphone App for Community Noise Issues With Live Map" (in en-US). Noiseandthecity.org. http://noiseandthecity.org/noisescore/. 
  11. ↑ "soundprint – Find Your Quiet Place" (in en-US). https://www.soundprint.co/. 
  12. ↑ "iHEARu" (in en). http://www.ihearu.co/. 
  13. ↑ "Audio Noise-Hiss, Hum, Rumble & Crackle". http://www.audioshapers.com/blog/audio-noise.html. 
  14. ↑ Stansfeld, Stephen A.; Matheson, Mark P. (2003-12-01). "Noise pollution: non-auditory effects on health" (in en). British Medical Bulletin 68 (1): 243–257. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldg033. ISSN 0007-1420. PMID 14757721. 
  15. ↑ Tompkins, Olga, MPH, rN, SM, CSP. Secondhand Noise and Stress. AAOHN J. 2009;57(10):436. Cited in: Your Journals@Ovid Full Text at http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=yrovftk&NEWS=N&AN=00001830-200910000-00007 . Accessed July 13, 2021.
  16. ↑ Goines, L., & Hagler, L. (2007). Noise pol-lution: A modern plague. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554566
  17. ↑ Hammer, Monica S.; Swinburn, Tracy K.; Neitzel, Richard L. (2014). "EHP – Environmental Noise Pollution in the United States: Developing an Effective Public Health Response". Environmental Health Perspectives 122 (2): 115–119. doi:10.1289/ehp.1307272. PMID 24311120. 
  18. ↑ Caves, R. W. (2004). Encyclopedia of the City. Routledge. pp. 493. ISBN 9780415252256. 
  19. ↑ Bhatia, Rajiv (May 20, 2014). "Noise Pollution: Managing the Challenge of Urban Sounds". http://earthjournalism.net/resources/noise-pollution-managing-the-challenge-of-urban-sounds. 
  20. ↑ "Noise Ordinance: Noise Regulations from U.S. Cities". http://www.kineticsnoise.com/industrial/noise_ordinance.html. 
  21. ↑ "Summary of the Noise Control Act" (in en). 2013-02-22. https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-noise-control-act. 
  22. ↑ Noise Control Act of 1972, P.L. 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234, 42 U.S.C. § 4901 – 42 U.S.C. § 4918.
  23. ↑ "Text of S. 3083 (95th): Quiet Communities Act (Passed Congress/Enrolled Bill version) – GovTrack.us". https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/95/s3083/text. 
  24. ↑ "Title IV – Noise Pollution" (in en). 2015-06-03. https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/title-iv-noise-pollution. 
  25. ↑ "CDC – Facts and Statistics: Noise – NIOSH Workplace Safety & Health". https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/stats.html. 
  26. ↑ "CDC – NIOSH Science Blog – Understanding Noise Exposure Limits: Occupational vs. General Environmental Noise". http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2016/02/08/noise/. 
  27. ↑ CDC – NIOSH Publications and Products – Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Noise (73-11001). 1975. doi:10.26616/NIOSHPUB76128. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/1970/73-11001.html. Retrieved 2016-06-15. 
  28. ↑ "OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) | Section III: Chapter 5 – Noise". https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/new_noise/index.html#effectsofexcessive. 
  29. ↑ "Noise: Policy Context". June 3, 2016. http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/noise/policy-context. 
  30. ↑ "Directive – Noise – Environment – European Commission". http://ec.europa.eu/environment/noise/directive_en.htm. 
  31. ↑ "Standard Summary Project Fiche: Implementation Capacity for Environmental Noise Directive". http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/turkey/ipa/2009/tr2009_032703-environmental_noise_directive_en.pdf. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Our Oceans, Seas and Coasts". europa.eu. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/eu-coast-and-marine-policy/marine-strategy-framework-directive/index_en.htm. 
  33. ↑ Baumgaertner, Emily; Kao, Jason; Lutz, Eleanor; Sedgwick, Josephine; Taylor, Rumsey; Throop, Noah; Williams, Josh (June 9, 2023). "Noise Could Take Years Off Your Life Here's How.". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/09/health/noise-exposure-health-impacts.html. 
  34. ↑ Kah Heng Lee; Geza Benke; Dean Mckenzie (2022). "The efficacy of earplugs at a major hazard facility" (in en). Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (Springler) 45 (1): 107–114. doi:10.1007/s13246-021-01087-y. ISSN 2662-4729. PMID 35023076. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-807643/v1. Retrieved 2022-08-10. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Passchier-Vermeer, W; Passchier, W F (2000-03-01). "Noise exposure and public health.". Environmental Health Perspectives 108 (Suppl 1): 123–131. doi:10.1289/ehp.00108s1123. ISSN 0091-6765. PMID 10698728. 
  36. ↑ Tompkins, Olga, MPH, rN, SM, CSP. Secondhand Noise and Stress. AAOHN J. 2009;57(10):436. Cited in: Your Journals@Ovid Full Text at http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=yrovftk&NEWS=N&AN=00001830-200910000-00007 . Accessed July 13, 2021.
  37. ↑ "CDC – Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topi". https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html. 
  38. ↑ Masterson, Elizabeth (2016-04-27). "Measuring the Impact of Hearing Loss on Quality of Life". http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2016/04/27/hearing-loss-years-lost/. 
  39. ↑ Tompkins, Olga, MPH, rN, SM, CSP. Secondhand Noise and Stress. AAOHN J. 2009;57(10):436. Cited in: Your Journals@Ovid Full Text at http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=yrovftk&NEWS=N&AN=00001830-200910000-00007 . Accessed July 13, 2021.
  40. ↑ Stansfield, S. A., & Matheson, M. P. (2003). Noise pollution: Non-auditory effects on health. British Medical Bulletin, 68, 243-257.
  41. ↑ "Noise-induced Hearing Loss". National Institute of Health. March 2014. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss#6. 
  42. ↑ Kardous, Chuck; Morata, Thais; Themann, Christa; Spears, Patricia; Afanuh, Sue (2015-07-07). "Turn it Down: Reducing the Risk of Hearing Disorders Among Musicians". http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2015/07/07/musicians-hearing-loss/. 
  43. ↑ "Buy Quiet". https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/buyquiet/default.html/. 
  44. ↑ Hudson, Heidi; Hayden, Chuck (2011-11-04). "Buy Quiet". http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2011/11/04/buy-quiet/. 
  45. ↑ Murphy, William; Tak, SangWoo (2009-11-24). "Workplace Hearing Loss". http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/11/24/hearing/. 
  46. ↑ Berger, Elliott H.; Voix, Jérémie (2018). "Chapter 11: Hearing Protection Devices". in D.K. Meinke (in en). The Noise Manual (6th ed.). Falls Church, Virginia: American Industrial Hygiene Association. pp. 255–308. https://online-ams.aiha.org/amsssa/ecssashop.show_product_detail?p_mode=detail&p_product_serno=2719. Retrieved 10 August 2022. 
  47. ↑ Groenewold M.R.; Masterson E.A.; Themann C.L.; Davis R.R. (2014). "Do hearing protectors protect hearing?". American Journal of Industrial Medicine (Wiley Periodicals) 57 (9): 1001–1010. doi:10.1002/ajim.22323. ISSN 1097-0274. PMID 24700499. PMC 4671486. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/36768. Retrieved 15 October 2022. 
  48. ↑ Barthes, Roland (1985). The Responsibility of Forms: Critical Essays on Music, Art and Representation. New York: Hill and Wang. ISBN 9780809080755. https://books.google.com/books?id=g6konQEACAAJ. 
  49. ↑ A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2009. pp. 619–620. ISBN 978-0-19-923965-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=mwf6RVGYLjgC&pg=PA619. 
  50. ↑ Russolo, Luigi (2004). "The art of noises: futurist manifesto". Audio Culture: Readings in Modern Music. New York: Continuum. pp. 10ff. ISBN 978-0-8264-1615-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=FgDgCOSHPysC&pg=PA10. 
  51. ↑ Cowell, Henry (2004). "The joys of noise". Audio Culture: Readings in Modern Music. New York: Continuum. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8264-1615-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=FgDgCOSHPysC&pg=PA22. 
  52. ↑ Urban, Felix (2016). Acoustic Competence Investigating sonic empowerment in urban cultures. Tectum Verlag (1. Auflage ed.). Marburg. ISBN 978-3-8288-3683-9. OCLC 951121194. 

Further reading

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