According to a new analysis published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Monday 24 April, noise pollution in Europe remained a major health problem and transport is mainly responsible for it, especially road transport.
Hans Bruynswick, the Executive Director of the EEA, presented the main lessons from the study to the conference on noise in Europe, organised that day in Brussels by the European Commission. The conference was attended by all stakeholders and representatives from the World Health Organisation (see EUROPE 11756). The EEA report demonstrates that road traffic is responsible for around 100 million Europeans suffering from prolonged periods of exposure to noise levels that exceed European limits set out by EU legislation and is by far the first source of noise pollution in Europe, with recognised damaging effects on health.
It is the second major environmental health problem after air pollution, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This report provides updated data on the scale of this major health scourge and on the measures taken in the EU as part of the 2002 European directive on the evaluation and management of environmental noise (2002/49/CE), which calls on the national authorities to take concrete action to limit the impact on health from this problem. The stress that this causes, especially at night, is at the very least a cause of annoyance but also a potential cause of premature death, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, sleep problems and hypertension.
Therefore, around 100 million people are exposed to road traffic noise above 55 dB in the 33 member countries of the EEA (Figure 1). Of these, 32 million are exposed to very high noise levels (above 65 dB). Railways are the second largest source, with 19 million people exposed to levels above 55 dB. Aircraft noise, close to major airports, is the third main source, with more than 4.1 million people exposed, followed by industrial noise within urban areas, with 10 million people exposed.
Improving implementation of legislation. According to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella, it is not the 2002 directive that is in question but rather, its implementation. He also indicated that the Commission was prepared to help member states, particularly with regard to the and Environmental Implementation Review (EIR). This new instrument helps to Carry out regular checks on the implementation of environmental legislation in each country and to identify the causes of the difficulties encountered and help each of them apply EU law (see EUROPE 11719).
The Commissioner stated, "The Noise Directive… is ‘fit for purpose’. That was the result of the Commission's thorough fitness check, part of the Commission's ongoing examination of major legislation. It's sound, but it isn't yet delivering as it should, mainly because of delays in its implementation. As the public consultation made clear, that is also the view of Europe's citizens... The Commission can help, and we will be reaching out to the Member States if they need more support". (Aminata Niang)