One way or the other, we are all accustomed to a particular sound .It could be any of the sounds we experience everyday in our surroundings. Whether we’re used to the buzzy chatter from work, the bleep of horns in traffic, music, the chirping of birds or thudding feet, we all can relate. Now here’s where there’s a clear cut. Do these sounds come across as noise? And what is body’s response to these sounds? Pleasant, disturbing, or frustrating? Maybe not. In a natural or normal manner, these sounds are at safe levels and don’t call forth any harm. However, these sounds become harmful when they are elevated or too loud, if even for a compendious amount of time. Now let’s refocus that attention on aircraft. Do aircrafts produce noise, and how much of it are we talking about?
People have argued countless times that aircraft noise is an inescapable phenomenon of aviation. In as much this statement is consistent with fact or reality; modern aircraft have been designed to produce less noise as noisy tube engines have been replaced as result of technological improvements. According to IATA’s environmental policies, ICAO adopted a new Standard that will result in a reduction of 7 Effective Perceived Noise decibels (EPNdB) compared to the current Chapter 4 Standard. The new standard will apply from the year 2018.The noisiest elements of flight are during takeoff, on run up from propeller and jet exhaust, and during landings. All of which can be categorized as aerodynamic noise, engine and other mechanical noises, and noise from aircraft systems. While aircraft noise, like any other have been linked to hypertension, induced hearing loss and sleep disturbance, one particular research finding which seems to have caught my attention is the fact that aircraft noise makes you fat.
People have argued countless times that aircraft noise is an inescapable phenomenon of aviation. In as much this statement is consistent with fact or reality; modern aircraft have been designed to produce less noise as noisy tube engines have been replaced as result of technological improvements. According to IATA’s environmental policies, ICAO adopted a new Standard that will result in a reduction of 7 Effective Perceived Noise decibels (EPNdB) compared to the current Chapter 4 Standard. The new standard will apply from the year 2018.The noisiest elements of flight are during takeoff, on run up from propeller and jet exhaust, and during landings. All of which can be categorized as aerodynamic noise, engine and other mechanical noises, and noise from aircraft systems. While aircraft noise, like any other have been linked to hypertension, induced hearing loss and sleep disturbance, one particular research finding which seems to have caught my attention is the fact that aircraft noise makes you fat.
A Swedish study revealed in August last year that living beside an airport or being overly exposed to aircraft noise can result in weight gain. The report was conducted by the Karolinska Institute based in Stockholm, the Swedish Capital. The large –scale research saw a total number of 5156 people being tracked, all of which lived in the Stockholm for an extensive period of ten years.
Participants of the survey lived around the Arlanda airport and were monitored keeping tab of each individual’s habits including smoking. The research found that the average increase in stomach size was 1.5 centimeters, although their habits were also factored in. The reason cited for this growth was that, aircraft noise triggers or increases the stress hormone known as cortisol, which has an effect on the amount of fat stored in a human’s stomach. However the research was inconclusive as to whether aircraft noise could be associated with a person’s body mass index BMI or Type 2 Diabetes. Moreover, many Scientists have raised concerns about the negative effects of aircraft noise, relating it to long term risk of hearts diseases and stroke.Most airports, like Bob Hope for instance, pays to insulate and soundproof homes near the airfield. Since the year 1997, it has contributed roughly a total amount of 110 million dollars in-noise mitigation upgrades to nearby homes-new doors and windows, beefed-up insulation, added weather stripping and central air conditioning, According to The Burbank Leader News website.
With urban airports becoming increasingly popular, several attempts to decrease aircraft noise pollution has proven quite difficult. However, quite a number of committed airports like Sea-Tac airport have implemented a number of noise abatement initiatives to reduce noised produced by aircraft over populated areas. Other airports include Munich airport, Miami International, Kotoka International airport, O.R Thambo International airport, Windhoek airport, among others.
The remedy for airport staff and anyone for that mater would always be the continual use of earplugs whenever involved in loud activities or complete restrain from all of such activities. The world needs you healthy and alive.
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