‘Quiet please-The future of EU noise policies’ event co-organized by Transport and Environment (T&E), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), took place on the 25th of May at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.
Kathleen Van Brempt MEP chaired the first panel, and introduced Mr. Philippe Jean, Director (acting), Internal Market, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission, who gave further detail on the forthcoming proposal for stricter vehicle noise standards. There currently is EU legislation on noise, however, the way noise is measured is underestimated, and there is a need to develop a new tool. The new EU initiative will include new technical methods that are closer to real driving conditions, and which speak for noise in real terms.
Brian Kristensen, from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, elaborated on the Danish Traffic noise reducation strategy, and Fanny Mietlicki shared the example of the region of Ile-de-France with regards to noise reduction policy.
The second panel on health impacts from environmental noise was chaired by Dr. Miroslav Mikolasik MEP, who mentioned that 44% of Europeans are worried about noise related health effects , and introduced Dr. Rok Ho Kim, Scientist for Noise and Health from the WHO European Center for Environment and Health in Bonn.
Dr. Rok Ho Kim, shared studies that have been conducted by WHO experts, revealing the following noise related health outcomes: sleep disturbance, cognitive impairments, ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and annoyance. However, further research is still needed in establishing a relationship between the level of traffic accidents caused by sleep disturbance, which in turn, is caused by noise.
The WHO has been active in providing evidence in noise related harm, and has published two important reports: the Guidelines on Community noise, and Night noise Guidelines for Europe. Dr. Rok Ho Kim, emphasized the role of the EU in action in this field, and see the EU as a leader in terms of public health and protection against noise.
Professor Stephen Stansfeld from the European Network on Noise and Health (ENNAH) in London, gave some indication on two studies conducted by the ENNAH, namely: the HYENA study, and the RANCH study. A variety of gaps can be found in literature when talking about noise. Indeed, more research is needed to investigate the effect of both noise and air pollution at the same time. Also, how do noise-related acute effects have an impact on cardiovascular diseases? Additonally, one must aim to standardize noise measurements, and to set up precise dose-response relationships, and analyze the effect of combined stressors, but also in the long term, for instance: what would be the effect of sound insulation of classrooms over time? Would it impact on life-long-learning? What is the effect of personal listening devices among young people in the long term? Interestingly, Stephen Stansfeld mentioned that studies are quite transparable, and that findings are generally fairly universal depending on specific level of noise.
The third panel was chaired by Michael Cramer MEP, and started off with a comprehensive speech by Soledad Blanco, Director of Sustainable Resources, DG Environment, European Commission. Soledad Blanco reminded that the Environmental Noise Directive is under the responsibility of DG Environment, and commented on the progress of the Directive. The Directive provides minimum requirements for the Member States to follow, nevertheless, 7 Member States still haven’t submitted their action plans, although the deadline was in 2009. Still a lot of work is needed on behalf of the Member States, in order to avoid huge time gaps and further delay in the effective implementation of preventive measures against noise related harm.
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