Source: People's Daily
Figure (1): On February 2, 2020, a new route at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan tested noise pollution in the surrounding area. Photo (2): On March 2, 2018, ENT specialists at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, examined the population. Figure (3): On July 21, 2020, a new batch of electric buses in Berlin, Germany, was put into operation to reduce urban noise and carbon emissions. People's Vision
With the advancement of economic development and urban construction, noise pollution is increasingly affecting the urban environment and the physical and mental health of residents. Some countries have strived to reduce noise pollution and actively build a harmonious and livable urban environment by introducing targeted laws and regulations, drawing urban noise maps, installing scientific and technological noise reduction equipment, and enhancing people's awareness of civilization.
Germany
Featured "Quiet Time"
Reporter Zhang Huizhong
When renting a house in Berlin, Germany, the lease contract usually contains a provision that tenants should avoid noise during "quiet hours": Monday to Saturday, "quiet hours" from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and all-day time on Sundays and public holidays.
"Quiet time" is a German-specific regulation that varies from federal state to state, but not much. If a neighbor believes that a resident is causing noise disturbance during "quiet hours", they can directly point out or call the police to the resident. Depending on the circumstances, the resident concerned may be given a warning, fined up to 5,000 euros, or even prosecuted in court. As a result, the vast majority of German residents strictly follow the rules during "quiet hours".
In terms of noise control, Germany has a relatively complete legal system and technical measures. Germany's Federal Emission Control Act, adopted in 1974, sets rules on four major sources of noise, namely, transportation, industry, neighborhoods, and mobile machinery, based on the principle of "polluter pays". In 2005, Germany amended the Federal Emission Control Act in accordance with the EU Environmental Noise Directive. In addition, the German government has also formulated relevant laws and regulations for different fields such as aviation, road traffic, and industry.
In order to reduce the impact of noise pollution on employees, Germany issued the German Workplace Regulations and the Noise and Oscillation Occupational Safety and Health Regulations in 2004 and 2007 respectively, requiring workplaces to comply with the principle of noise minimization. At the same time, employers need to make noise assessments and remind employees according to the results of the assessment, provide hearing protectors and preventive occupational medical services.
In terms of noise control measures, Germany divides noise pollution control into three levels: first of all, to avoid noise from the source; the second priority is to reduce the noise during the propagation; and finally to reduce the noise at the receiver level. In order to accurately implement policies, government departments map major roads, railways, airports and urban agglomerations, and accordingly discuss with people everywhere to develop noise reduction action plans.
The Government's main governance measures include issuing operating permits only to industrial and commercial institutions that do not adversely affect the environment due to noise, laying road surfaces with more sound-absorbing materials, taking noise protection into account when planning night flight routes, and installing soundproof glass for residents near railway airports.
It is worth noting that in 2011, Germany amended the Federal Emission Control Law to exempt the noise limit for children under 6 years old, and to exclude children's noise generated by daycare centers, children's outdoor playgrounds, stadiums and other venues from the scope of "harmful environment". In addition, the relevant laws of some federal states also tolerate infants and young children crying during "quiet time", but at the same time believe that parents have an obligation to take into account the physical and mental health of their neighbors and reduce the influence of their children on others through education.
France
The new "noise radar"
Reporter Liu Lingling
Recently, a number of "noise radars" have appeared on the streets of Paris, Nice, Toulouse and other cities in France. After official operation, vehicles exceeding the prescribed decibel will be automatically recorded for violations and fined. France has both "ruled" and "prevented" noise, constantly improving and refining the corresponding laws and regulations, and increasing the application of science and technology in noise reduction.
The French Environment and Energy Administration recently released a set of data, in France, about 25 million people are affected by noise pollution, of which 9 million people cause physical or mental health problems due to noise pollution. In France, the economic losses caused by noise pollution are about 147 billion euros (1 euro is about 7.0 yuan) per year. Among them, traffic noise, industrial noise and social and environmental noise are the main sources of noise.
The data shows that traffic noise is the most important source of noise pollution in France. As early as 1992, France introduced a law on noise control, implementing a policy of combining prevention and control of noise in the field of transportation. In 2002, the European Union adopted the Environmental Noise Directive, which provides a common framework for the control of traffic noise pollution in member states. According to this framework, France has drawn noise maps for major roads, railways, residential areas, etc., and shows different noise levels in different colors. People only need to enter the postal code to find the level of noise pollution on the official website of the municipal map. This noise map is updated every 5 years, and the local government will adopt the "Environmental Noise Prevention Plan" to prevent and reduce noise in the environment.
In response to industrial noise pollution, the French Public Health Act stipulates that public or private works, as well as any works related to buildings, must be declared and authorized to be built. During the construction process, the requirements for the use of materials and equipment stipulated by the local authorities must be followed. In addition, the construction party must take appropriate precautions to limit noise, such as using low-noise models of power starters as much as possible, taking containment isolation or other noise reduction measures. The construction site needs to detect the main noise sources, and once the requirements are exceeded, it must be rectified in time.
The Public Health Law also makes detailed provisions on noise generated by sports, gatherings, cultural and leisure activities. The overall principle is that in public or private places, no noise should affect the tranquility and health of the neighborhood due to its duration, repetition or intensity. Once the phenomenon of noise disturbance occurs, residents can solve it through legal channels. In this process, the municipal government will play the main mediating role. After communicating with the noise producer in person is ineffective, residents can complain to the municipal government. If the resolution is not resolved on a sustained basis, the municipal government may be required to produce a certificate of complaint and then bring a lawsuit to the court.
In addition to the unified national regulations, different cities in France have also adopted different noise control measures according to local conditions. For example, in the past five years, the Paris municipality has funded the renovation and renovation of facilities related to the highway and the addition of soundproofing to some residential buildings.
Laurian Rossi, president of the French National Noise Regulatory Commission, believes that the relevant Laws and Regulations in France have carefully divided noise pollution and made noise control have rules to follow, "but we need to continue to work hard to reduce noise from the source in an efficient and economical way. Therefore, we are looking at further technical countermeasures against noise pollution through road surface modification, speed limiting, engine replacement, extensive installation of 'noise radar'."
United Kingdom
Intuitive noise map
Reporter Xing Xue
The United Kingdom has a long history of controlling noise pollution through legal means, and there were legal rulings against noise disturbance as early as the Middle Ages. In 1974, the United Kingdom introduced the Pollution Control Act, which gives local governments the power to deal with certain types of noise; in 1990, the Environmental Protection Act classified noise harmful to health as a nuisance; in 1996, the Noise Act provided for the use of fixed standards to manage night noise in relevant places.
To help policymakers and residents understand the extent of noise pollution, the UK completed a noise map of the city of Birmingham in 2000 and a noise map of London's road traffic in 2004. On the map, different colors represent different sound pressure levels, and people can find the size of the noise on the relevant street by logging in to the noise map website and entering the zip code. Noise maps provide a guide for people living in cities to avoid noise. London's road traffic noise map even affected the price of houses in different parts of London at one point. The government can intuitively understand the noise pollution situation and the effect of treatment through the noise map.
In 2019, the UK released the third edition of the Noise Map of England and the corresponding action plan. The action plan proposes that in the next 5 years, the British government will take action to strengthen management according to the information shown on the noise map, so as to minimize the noise caused by roads, railways, aircraft, etc., while continuing to maintain a good and quiet environment in low-noise areas.
In February, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme concluded that urban noise pollution was one of the world's "biggest emerging environmental threats." The World Health Organization has listed traffic noise as the second leading cause of ill health in Western Europe, after air pollution. The researchers found that high noise levels lead to an increased incidence of coronary artery disease and stroke, as well as severe impacts on people with autism and other diseases of the developmental system. Back in 2012, a survey in the UK showed that 5 million people in the country were greatly disturbed by traffic noise.
In 2019, London launched the "Ultra-Low Emission Zone" campaign to push more people to choose new energy vehicles, which not only reduce air pollution, but also make it quieter, which is conducive to reducing the overall noise level of the city. Since January, acoustic cameras have been installed on the streets in parts of London to photograph high-noise vehicles such as speeding sports cars and fine them. Especially at night, these speeding sports cars often overwhelm residents.
According to the new rules introduced by the United Kingdom this year, cars registered between 2007 and 2016 should not sound more than 74 decibels when driving, and cars registered after 2016 should not exceed 72 decibels. Parts of the UK plan to increase the penalty amount for noise. At present, related companies are studying the accuracy of identifying high-noise vehicles in the traffic flow through technological transformation, and how to use new materials to strengthen the sound insulation effect of houses, etc., to create a quieter and healthier living environment for people living in cities.
Singapore
Strict laws and regulations
Reporter Liu Hui
Singapore has fewer people and a densely populated living environment. During the COVID-19 epidemic, many people worked from home, and complaints about noise in buildings rose to an average of more than 1,000 per month, a significant increase from before the outbreak.
To control and reduce urban noise, Singapore has enacted and implemented strict laws and regulations. The Environmental Protection and Management Act sets out noise standards for different places. For example, in hospitals, schools and other places, the maximum noise must be controlled between 50-60 decibels, and the residential area must be controlled between 55-75 decibels.
Construction sites less than 150 metres from residential areas and noise-sensitive sites are subject to strict noise control. From 2016 to 2020, the government banned an average of about 150 construction sites per year that first violated Sunday's work ban restrictions. Any individual who does not comply with the rectification requirements may face a hefty fine or even imprisonment.
Starting in October, construction sites that violate the work ban will need to install designated video surveillance equipment at the government's own expense and grant government authorities access to these devices. The Singapore government has also set up a special fund to subsidize construction companies to purchase new construction and noise reduction equipment.
In order to reduce noise pollution from motor vehicles, the Singapore government stipulates that new and used cars exported to Singapore must meet noise emission standards. All vehicles need to be inspected regularly at the testing center, and vehicles that do not meet the standards will be banned from the road. The Singapore government is currently further tightening vehicle noise emission standards, and from April 2023, the maximum noise of motor vehicles must be controlled between 68-77 decibels.
More than 80% of Singapore's population lives in HDB flats (public housing planned by the local government). HDB flat renovations can only be carried out on weekdays and Saturdays upon request, and are not allowed on Sundays and public holidays. In order to reduce man-made noise, the Singapore government will also issue good neighborly tips and instruction manuals in HDB flats, requiring residents not to make too much noise when they are at home; avoid noisy entertainment activities; ensure that children do not make too much noise when playing; and recommend installing rubber plugs on the bottom of furniture to reduce mopping noise.
Singapore is also focusing on the use of technology and other ancillary means to reduce the impact of noise, such as the government will install noise measuring instruments in residential areas near construction sites, install sound insulation screens on subway tracks, and install silencers for train wheels.
People's Daily ( May 15, 2022 Edition 07)