What is noise pollution. Sources of noise pollution

Noise is a form of physical (wave) pollution environment. Noise is understood as all unpleasant and unwanted sounds or their combination, which interfere with normal work, perception of information sound signals, rest. It occurs due to compression and rarefaction air masses, that is, fluctuating changes in air pressure. There are noises: constant, intermittent, oscillating, intermittent, and impulsive. In general, noise is a chaotic accumulation of sounds of different frequencies, strengths, heights, and durations that go beyond the limits of sound comfort. It is now well known that noise has a harmful effect on people’s health, reduces their performance, causes diseases of the hearing organs (deafness), endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular systems(hypertension). Physiological and biological adaptation of a person to noise is practically impossible, therefore regulation and limitation noise pollution environment is an important and mandatory event.

The corresponding sound landscape has always existed on Earth, and people have always used the properties of the environment as a conductor, a carrier of sounds. Human life in absolute silence is impossible.

The unit of noise measurement is Bel - the ratio of the effective value of sound pressure to the minimum value that is perceived by the human ear. In practice, a tenth of this physical unit is used - decibel (dB).

The environmental noise level is 30-60 dBA. In modern conditions, this natural background is supplemented by industrial and transport noise, the level of which often exceeds 100 dBA. / Noise sources include all types of transport, industrial facilities, loudspeaker devices, elevators, televisions, radios, musical instruments, crowds of people and individuals (Table 2.8).

Long known beneficial influence environmental noise (noise of leaves, rain, river, etc.) on the human body. Statistics show that people who work in the forest, near the river, at the sea are less likely than city residents to suffer from nervous and cardiovascular diseases. It has been proven that the rustling of leaves, the singing of birds, the murmur of a stream, the sounds of rain

Table 2.8. Noise intensity from various sources

healing effect on the nervous system. Under the influence of the sound waves of the waterfall, muscle work intensifies.

The positive influence of harmonious calm music has been known since ancient times. These are lullabies that are widespread all over the world - quiet, gentle monotonous tunes, and the healing of nervous diseases with the soothing murmur of stream water, soft noise sea ​​waves or singing. The negative effects of sound have also been known for a long time. One of the medieval punishments was the brutal murder of the victim with the sounds of a powerful bell, when the doomed person died in terrible agony from unbearable pain in the ears.

A hundred years ago, the noise level on the central highways of large cities did not exceed 60 dBA. Now at major cities there are areas where it exceeds 70 dBA ( sanitary standard for night time - 40 dBA). 60-80% of city noise is generated by vehicles.

The human body spends large number energy, the nervous system is overstrained, fatigue, nervous and mental disorders occur.

Sudden, sharp, high-frequency sounds are particularly difficult to bear. At a noise level of more than 80 dBA, hearing is weakened, neuropsychiatric diseases, stomach ulcers, hypertension occur, and aggressiveness increases. Very strong noise (more than 110 dBA) leads to so-called noise intoxication, and then to the destruction of body tissues, primarily the hearing aid. Women are more sensitive to the effects of loud noise, and in conditions of sound discomfort, signs of neurasthenia appear.

Noise is harmful not only to humans. It has been established that plants under the influence of noise grow more slowly, they exhibit excessive (even complete, which leads to death) release of moisture through the leaves, and cell damage is possible. Leaves and flowers of plants located near the loudspeaker die.

Noise has a similar effect on animals. From noise jet plane Bee larvae die, they themselves lose the ability to navigate, and the shells of eggs in bird nests crack. Noise reduces milk yield, weight gain of pigs, and egg production of chickens. The noise of fish is painful, especially during the spawning period.

In modern conditions, noise control is technically complex, complex, and expensive. It is important to reduce noise at its source, create silent or low-noise machines and technological processes, transport and industrial equipment, starting from the design stage.

At the same time, the expected noise level is calculated, and measures are developed to reduce noise to an acceptable level.

Hygienists consider the upper noise limit for hospitals and sanatoriums to be 35 dBA, for apartments and educational premises - 40 dBA, stadiums and train stations - 60 dBA.

There are two types of industrial noise regulation: sanitary and hygienic and technical. The first regulates the noise level taking into account its effects on the human body. The standard for residential noise is 40 dBA during the day, C dBA at night. Technical standardization standardizes existing or expected noise characteristics of facility equipment. The second must provide the requirements of the first. The human ear perceives sound waves with a frequency below 16 Hz not as sound, but as vibration. Vibrations are trembling or shaking of the entire body or its individual parts during various works (concrete laying, not in my case crushing rocks or road surfaces, working in mines with a jackhammer, sawing materials, etc.). Prolonged vibrations cause great harm to health - from severe fatigue and not very significant changes in many body functions to concussion, tissue rupture, cardiac dysfunction, nervous system, muscle and cell deformation, impaired skin sensitivity, blood circulation, etc.

Maximum permissible vibration values ​​have been established. They are determined on the basis that, systematically operating during an 8-hour working day, vibration does not cause illness or health problems in the worker during the entire period of his production activity.

The social nature of the problem of environmental noise pollution determines that the fight against it is not only a technical, but also a social task. In the problem of interaction between human society and nature, a conscious and active fight against noise pollution of the environment takes place.

Noise pollution is an excess of the natural background noise level or an abnormal change in sound characteristics: frequency, sound intensity, etc. Noise pollution leads to increased fatigue in humans and animals, decreased labor productivity, and physical and nervous diseases.

Thus, noise pollution is irritating noise of anthropogenic origin that disrupts the life of living organisms and humans. The main source of noise pollution is vehicles- cars, railway trains and airplanes.

From the State Report "On the State of the Environment in Moscow in 2010"

The main sources of noise in the city are:

• motor transport flows of the city's road network;
• railway transport;
• above-ground metro lines;
• air transport of airports (Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, to a lesser extent Ostafyevo) of the Moscow air hub;
• industrial enterprises;
• utility and storage facilities;
• electrical and thermal power facilities;
• construction equipment (especially when working at night);
• engineering equipment of buildings, structures, residential buildings;
• noises of “domestic origin”;
• loudspeaker noise, etc.

According to expert estimates, up to 70% of the territory of the city of Moscow is subject to excess noise from various sources. Standard noise levels are achieved deep in residential areas and forested areas.

The amount of excess reaches the following values:

• 20-25 dBA in areas near highways16:
• up to 30-35 dBA for apartments in residential buildings facing major highways (without noise-proof glazing);
• up to 10-20 dBA near railways when trains are moving;
• up to 8-10 dBA in areas subject to periodic exposure to aircraft noise17;
• up to 30 dBA if established requirements are not observed when carrying out construction work at night.

In connection with the objective development of the city, the increase in the volume and pace of construction, and the development of the transport complex, new noise sources will appear, and the noise characteristics of existing noise sources will increase. For example, the trend in recent years is to reduce the differences between noise levels during the day and at night in the city adjacent to highways. The noise characteristics of most urban highways change slightly during the day (except for the period from 3 to 5 am) due to the fact that at night the decrease in the number of vehicles is compensated by an increase in the speed of traffic flow.

The situation observed in the city requires the use of adequate “compensatory” measures and the development of special noise protection measures in areas with excess noise levels.

To reduce excess noise and preserve existing acoustically safe areas of the city, it is necessary to introduce large-scale noise-reducing technologies in all areas of urban economy and industry, develop special measures to reduce noise, tighten penalties for violations associated with the creation of excess noise, while simplifying the procedure for bringing to responsibility .

To implement a unified approach to solving the citywide problem of increased noise, the Moscow Government adopted Resolution No. 896-PP dated October 16, 2077, approving the Concept of reducing noise and vibration levels in the city of Moscow, the main goals of which were:

• preventing the deterioration of living and recreation conditions in the city of Moscow in terms of noise levels;
• preservation and development of acoustically safe areas of the city;
• providing conditions for recreation for Moscow residents at night;
• preservation of habitats of animals listed in the Red Book of Moscow, sensitive to impacts elevated levels noise and vibration;
• ensuring that information about noise and vibration problems and measures taken to reduce them is accessible to the public.

There are two approaches to achieving standard noise levels in city areas and in premises for various functional purposes:

• implementation of technical measures to reduce the noise characteristics of noise sources (in this case, the reduction in noise characteristics occurs through improving the design of equipment and the use of advanced technologies);
• protection of territories and premises through the use of noise-reducing technologies and materials.

To protect residential premises from excess noise levels in the city of Moscow during the construction and reconstruction of the road network and major repairs of multi-apartment residential buildings (within the framework of the Moscow City Law of December 19, 2007 No. 52 “On the city target program for major repairs apartment buildings for 2008-2014"), noise-proof windows are installed. According to data from the prefectures of administrative districts, in 2007-2010, 410,526 noise-proof windows were installed in Moscow, of which 356,442 were installed within overhaul multi-apartment residential buildings, 54084 - during reconstruction/construction of highways.

In December 2010, in accordance with the Concept of Reducing Noise and Vibration Levels in the City of Moscow, NIPI General Plan of Moscow, commissioned by Moskomarkhitektura, work began on the formation of an address list of residential buildings located in the noise discomfort zone, but not requiring major repairs (completion date - February 2012 .). This list will include residential buildings, at the facades of which, within environmental monitoring excesses of established standards for noise levels were identified, as well as a targeted list of residential buildings, prepared by the Moskomarkhitektura in 2008, falling within the zone of excess noise exposure from railway transport.

In 2010, the Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the city of Moscow completed the formation of an address list of social facilities in the city that are in city ownership, for which noise protection measures are required (Moscow Government Decree of October 14, 2008 No. 946-PP “On updating the activities of the Targeted Medium-Term Environmental Program of the City of Moscow for 2006-2008 with the development of activities until 2010"). Based on the results of field measurements of noise levels, 470 social facilities (children's preschools, general education and medical institutions) subject to excess noise exposure were identified. For these facilities, the issue of financing noise protection measures is being resolved.

To protect residential areas from excess noise impact from motor vehicles in Moscow, more than 25 km of noise-protective roadside screens have been installed (data from the Scientific Research and Design Institute of the General Plan of Moscow). Noise protection measures are included in projects for the reconstruction and construction of new sections of the road network.

In 2010, the practice of aircraft flying over the territories of the city of Moscow continued (40 districts located in the Western, South-Western, Southern, South-Eastern and Zelenograd administrative districts), including at night.

The restricted zone over Moscow is limited by the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD). At the same time, within the boundaries of the restricted zone (with permission from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation24) aircraft flights over the Yasenevo and Teply Stan microdistricts are allowed at a distance of no more than 3.5 km from the MKAD ( height not lower than 400 m), in the Chertanovo, Biryulyovo and Orekhovo-Borisovo districts at a distance of no more than 2.5 km from the Moscow Ring Road (height - not less than 1200 m). Flights over Moscow areas located outside the Moscow Ring Road are not restricted.

To eliminate excess noise from air transport, night flights are prohibited/restricted in EU countries. Meanwhile, according to the branch “Moscow Center for Automated Air Traffic Control” of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “State ATM Corporation”, due to the increase in the intensity of air transportation carried out by the airports of the Moscow air hub (hereinafter referred to as MAU), the exclusion of aircraft flights over the territory of the city of Moscow, including in night time is impossible due to the high density of the route network.

In connection with the above, a realistic goal in the field of reducing noise pollution from air transport today is to eliminate aircraft flights over residential areas in violation of established flight routes. For this purpose, it is planned to create a network of automatic aircraft noise monitoring stations, which will carry out measurements around the clock, highlighting the excess component of aircraft. Currently, the first automatic aircraft noise monitoring station has already been installed in Zelenograd, which is currently operating in test mode.

In order to reduce negative impact noise from construction work in world practice such methods as prohibiting construction work from 19:00 to 7:00, on weekends and holidays, video surveillance of construction work, limiting the duration of noisy work during the daytime and requirements for the use of low-noise equipment. In Moscow, construction work at night (from 23:00 to 07:00) is currently permitted (Moscow Government Decree No. 857-PP dated December 7, 2004 “On approval of the rules for preparation and production earthworks, arrangement and maintenance of construction sites in the city of Moscow"). At the same time, restrictions have been established on the noise level of work, including requirements for the use of low-noise equipment:

• ensure that the vehicle engine is turned off while on site;
• exclude loudspeaker communication;
• do not produce welding work without installing protective screens;
• exclude the driving of foundation piles and other work accompanied by noise exceeding the permissible norm;
• do not allow floodlights to illuminate the facades of residential buildings adjacent to the construction site;
• exclude the operation of equipment with noise and vibration levels exceeding permissible standards.

In world practice, attention is also paid to household noise and various types equipment used outdoors (including trimmers and blowers), noise from sporting events. In Moscow, Article 3.13 of the Moscow City Code on administrative violations administrative liability is provided for violating peace and quiet at night for all such sources.

Monitoring of noise levels on the territory of the city of Moscow from various sources of noise exposure, including control over the observation of the acoustic regime of construction sites at night, is carried out by the round-the-clock acoustic service of the GPU “Mosekomonitoring”.

Information about research conducted by the acoustic service of the State Public Institution “Mosekomonitoring” based on residents’ complaints about noise exposure in 2010 is presented in the section “Results of the work of the mobile laboratory.”

Another pollution that negatively affects human health, plants, animals and even inanimate objects is noise pollution.

Sound occurs as a result of vibrations of air molecules and constant changes in air pressure. These waves propagate in the air in a longitudinal form. So, sound waves are a form mechanical waves, distributed in the form longitudinal waves, and cause a feeling of audibility. These waves are capable of propagating in a medium with different frequencies. normal person able to hear sound vibrations in the frequency range from 16 Hz to 15-20 kHz. Sound below the range of human audibility is called infrasound; above - ultrasound.

Noise is a sound of any kind that people perceive as unpleasant, interfering with the perception of speech, music, rest, work, or even causing pain. Noise has harmful effects on the human body. Annoying noises also exist in nature (abiotic and biotic), but it is incorrect to consider them pollution, since living organisms have adapted to them in the process of evolution. Therefore, even music can have negative influence on the psyche and physical condition person. Sound is measured in decibels (dB), based on changes in air pressure. The human ear perceives vibrations in the form of sound, the frequency of which lies in the range from 16 Hz to 20 kHz. The range of audible sounds between the hearing threshold and the pain threshold ranges from 0 to 130 dB. Noise pollution has a direct connection with industrial technology. In other words, along with the growth and development of technology, the problem of noise has become more pressing and causes acute problems.

The main sources of noise pollution are vehicles - cars, railway trains and airplanes, as well as industries and construction work.

The main sources of noise pollution in cities are airports, railway stations, car horns and exhausts, ambulance sirens, and sounds from construction work and industrial equipment. Outside the city, the main source of noise pollution is considered to be noise near highways, airfields and railways. According to experts, the presence of a railway in the area can have devastating consequences on animals and plants, since railway lines run through unique natural ecosystems. Noise pollution caused by trains can affect native plants and animals and endanger the lives of living creatures and people living nearby. railway tracks, and force rare birds and animals move to other ecosystems, which in itself creates the preconditions for extinction rare species fauna and flora.

Now noise pollution is mostly industrial developed countries considered one of the main environmental problems. The results of the studies show that noise pollution causes many physical and psychological diseases in humans, thereby imposing enormous costs on society.

Noise pollution reduces hearing. Other adverse effects of noise pollution are headache and dizziness, dyspepsia, constipation, gastrointestinal ulcers, itching and allergic skin diseases, neurological disorders, vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, heart attack and sleep disturbance. Constant noise increases the production of the hormone adrenaline and cortisol in the blood. The increase in adrenaline causes the heart to beat faster, and cortisol increases stress and anxiety in a person. As a result of noise pollution, blood pressure increases, particularly in the skull, salivation decreases and the mouth feels dry. For example, the results of the study show that if a person is exposed to noise above 70 dB for eight hours, his blood pressure increases by 5-10 mmHg. Noise pollution can also cause abortion. Noise causes “maternal” stress, and this stress narrows the blood vessels in the womb, which are responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients, resulting in low birth weight babies.

Noise pollution threatens the lives of not only people, but also animals. The results of laboratory studies show that in conditions of sounds with a volume above 85 dB, the hearing acuity of animals and their ability to hear the natural sounds of the environment and other animals decrease. For example, studies have shown that a desert kangaroo living in a buggy environment with a sound intensity of 95 dB cannot perceive its distance from a potential predator, such as a rattlesnake. In a normal state, not to mention any other factor that paralyzes the senses, when a rattlesnake crawls within 40 cm of a desert kangaroo, the kangaroo may not notice its approach. Under conditions of high sound intensity, this ability is reduced from 40 cm to 2 cm. After this test, the kangaroo took three weeks to restore its natural senses. The test was carried out in a cage. It is obvious that in natural environment kangaroos could not survive in such conditions.

Noise pollution at times may not have a significant impact on an animal's auditory system, but may cause an increase in heart rate, breathing problems, and severe nervous reactions. Changes in behavior such as declining birth rates and habitat abandonment are others negative consequences noise pollution. This fact is proven by tests performed on different animals. For example, the results of studies on monkeys in a cage showed that the blood pressure of a monkey in an environment with an average sound intensity of 85 dB increased by 30% over 8 months (at night this level decreased, and during the day it increased by 85 dB).

After a month passed from the cessation of sound exposure and the return to normal state, the change in blood pressure remained, i.e. did not return to normal.

Similar experiments were carried out on mice. It turned out that noise pollution increases stress in mice and the risk of disease in their bodies. Another sound exposure with an average level of 82-85 dB for a period of 8 hours per day was a decrease in the ability of adult mice to solve problems and a decrease in fetal weight in the womb by 66%. Other effects of noise in animals include premature migration of wildlife and birds, abortion, ear bleeding, anorexia (decreased appetite), aggression, decreased milk production in mammals, and shortened life. The research also shows that urban cacophony has a negative impact on bird populations and causes changes in their singing and behavior. In noisy areas, birds began to sing louder high frequencies. U bats difficulties arose in catching prey. Frogs have a hard time finding mating partners. Whales began to make louder sounds to communicate with each other.

Noise pollution harms not only animals, but also plants.

Many people believe that noise pollution does not affect trees and plants because they do not have a hearing system. But new research shows that noise pollution can also affect small plants and trees that depend on animals and insects to carry their seeds and pollinate their flowers. When animals experience increased noise from traffic or other human activities, they are forced to change their behavior or move to quieter areas. The number of pine trees, on which many species of birds and animals nest, is decreasing due to their limited competition for habitat. recent years, main reason what is noise pollution.

Meanwhile, according to experts, trees can play a significant role in reducing noise pollution. Trees, like a "shield", significantly shorten sound waves, and their leaves function as a factor that reduces sound levels. Based on research from the National Forestry Center under the Ministry agriculture USA, correct use and the development of trees reduces noise from five to ten dB, i.e. reduces noise pollution produced by human activities by 50%. Experts recommend that creating a wall of leaves or planting shrubs and tall trees, such as poplar, can reduce noise pollution around them. If the vegetation cover is of sufficient height, width and density, it can reduce noise from highway traffic.

Noise pollution is one of the neglected issues in overall environmental pollution today. Due to insufficient knowledge about noise pollution, serious measures have not yet been taken to combat it. But today scientists have come to the conclusion that this type of pollution is also a serious threat to the environment and biodiversity, and therefore the world community will have to take active action.

Several years ago, the concept of “noise pollution” and after it “noise disease” appeared in medicine. The disease can be triggered by noise from household appliances, traffic outside the window, constant sounds of music and mobile phones etc. The more often you come under sound attack, the more the two suffer important functions body - sleep and digestion. The fact is that overstrain of the auditory analyzer leads to an increase in inhibition processes in the cerebral cortex, and this changes reflex activity person. Possible results include hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, hypertension, headaches, nervousness and depression. Even metabolic disruptions can occur due to excessive background noise. So before you unsuccessfully treat a weak stomach, fight intracranial pressure or try to lose weight, analyze the situation: what if you are in a zone of constant activity of sound waves.

The word "permanent" is key here. It is no secret that big cities never sleep, which means that noise phenomena have moved from periodic to continuous (residents of houses located along key highways or railways know this especially well). For normal functioning, the brain must have several hours of complete rest, that is, silence. It is under such conditions that the body is restored, not only psychological, but also physiological functions.

The ear is one of the most complex and delicate organs; it perceives both very weak and very strong sounds. Under the influence of strong noise, especially high-frequency noise, irreversible changes occur in the organ of hearing. At high noise levels, hearing sensitivity drops within 1 - 2 years, at medium levels it is detected much later, after 5 - 10 years, that is, hearing loss occurs slowly, the disease develops gradually. It is therefore especially important to take appropriate noise protection measures in advance. Today, almost everyone exposed to noise at work is at risk of becoming deaf.

Eduard SINKOV, otorhinolaryngologist, candidate of medical sciences, assistant at the department of Moscow State Medical University: “Noise can cause persistent hearing loss - hearing loss. Medicine distinguishes two types of this disease: conductive hearing loss (occurs when there is a violation of the conduction of sounds to the inner ear) and neurosensory - a violation perception of sounds by damaged hair cells of the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss is usually corrected surgically, and sensorineural hearing loss is an indication for conservative treatment or selection of a hearing aid.”

Noise is one of those factors that you cannot get used to. It only seems to a person that he is accustomed to noise, but acoustic pollution, acting constantly, destroys human health. Noise, as a harmful production factor, is responsible for 15% of all occupational diseases. Acoustic pollution has an adverse effect on all body systems. There is a relationship between the incidence and duration of living in conditions of acoustic pollution. An increase in diseases is observed after living for 8-10 years when exposed to noise with an intensity above 70 dB. City noise can be attributed to the causes of hypertension and coronary heart disease. Under the influence of noise, attention is weakened, physical and mental performance decreases. Constant exposure to noise (more than 80 dB) leads to gastritis and peptic ulcer stomach. As we see, noise provokes the emergence of all the most striking diseases of industrial society.

A person complains of feeling unwell for a long time. Symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, excessive irritability. All this is the result of working in noisy conditions. The effect of noise on humans has not been the subject of special research until some time ago. Nowadays, the effect of sound and noise on the functions of the body is studied by a whole branch of science - audeology.

Olga ZAYTSEVA, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Head of the Department of Vestibulology and Otoneurology of the Scientific and Clinical Center of Otorhinology: “Damage to hair cells most often occurs due to a constant sound stimulus of a certain frequency. Hair cells become so accustomed to the sound stimulus that they are tense even in complete silence Treatment in this case should be aimed at restoring blood circulation through massage, acupuncture, and in some cases, drug treatment is prescribed.”

The impact of noise also depends on the individual's attitude towards it. Thus, the noise produced by the person himself does not bother him, while small extraneous noise can cause a strong irritating effect. Lack of necessary silence, especially at night, leads to premature fatigue. Noises high levels can be good soil for the development of persistent insomnia, neuroses and atherosclerosis. Under the influence of noise from 85 - 90 dB, hearing sensitivity at high frequencies decreases.

Numerous studies confirm that noise pollution (this is the term experts increasingly use when characterizing living conditions in a modern metropolis) is a catalyst (and in 10% of cases the main cause) of myocardial infarction, hypertension, and depressive states. The statistics are also not encouraging. It is believed that noise reduces the life expectancy of residents of large cities by 10-12 years (for comparison, smoking takes up to eight years of our life).

Noise pollution also quickly disrupts the natural balance of ecosystems. Noise pollution can lead to disruption of orientation in space, communication, search for food, etc. In this regard, some animals begin to make louder sounds, which is why they themselves will become secondary sound pollutants, further disturbing the balance in ecosystem.

One of the most known cases The damage caused by noise pollution to nature is the numerous cases where dolphins and whales have washed ashore, losing their orientation due to the loud sounds of military sonars (sonars).

So, noise has a destructive effect on the entire human body and on natural communities living in the city. Its disastrous work is also facilitated by the fact that we are practically defenseless against noise. A blindingly bright light makes us instinctively close our eyes. The same instinct of self-preservation saves us from being burned by moving our hand away from the fire or from a hot surface. But humans do not have a protective reaction to the effects of noise.

"Noise pollution of the atmosphere"

Introduction An environmental problem is a problem of the relationship between society and nature, conservation of the environment. Over the course of thousands of years, man has constantly increased his technical capabilities and increased his interference in nature, forgetting about the need to maintain biological balance in it. The load on the environment increased especially sharply in the second half of the 20th century. There was a qualitative leap in the relationship between society and nature when, as a result of a sharp increase in population, intensive industrialization and urbanization of our planet, economic pressures began to everywhere exceed the ability of ecological systems to self-purify and regenerate. As a result, the natural cycle of substances in the biosphere was disrupted, and the health of the current and future generations of people was under threat. Environmental problem modern world not only sharp, but also multifaceted. It appears in almost all sectors of material production and is relevant to all regions of the planet. Stop and listen: multi-ton MAZs and ZILs are noisily rushing along the street. Front doors slam on powerful steel springs, children scream from the yard, guitars strum until late at night. Tape recorders and televisions are deafening, factory floors greet us with the roar of machine tools and other machines... The picture seems ordinary. But is this normal? Our century has become the noisiest. It is now difficult to name an area of ​​technology, production and everyday life where noise would not be present in the sound spectrum, that is, a mixture of sounds that bothers us and irritates us. For a certain comfort, convenience of communication and transportation, improvement of life and improvement of production, modern man no longer has to listen to the creaking of carts and the swearing of drivers, but to the howl of cars, the grind of trams, the rattling of motorcycles and helicopters, the roar of jet aircraft. Over the past decade, the problem of noise control in many countries has become one of the most important. Man has always lived in a world of sounds and noise. Such mechanical vibrations are called sound external environment , which are perceived by the human hearing aid (from 16 to 20,000 vibrations per second). Vibrations of higher frequencies are called ultrasound, and vibrations of lower frequencies are called infrasound. Noise is loud sounds merged into a discordant sound. For all living organisms, including humans, sound is one of the environmental influences. In nature, loud sounds are rare, the noise is relatively weak and short-lived. The combination of sound stimuli gives animals and humans the time necessary to assess their character and formulate a response. High-power sounds and noises affect the hearing aid, nerve centers, and can cause pain and shock. This is how noise pollution works. Noise pollution is the sound scourge of our time, apparently the most intolerable of all types of environmental pollution. Along with the problems of air, soil and water pollution, humanity is faced with the problem of dealing with noise. Such concepts as “acoustic ecology”, “noise pollution of the environment”, etc. have appeared and are becoming widespread. All this is due to the fact that the harmful effects of noise on the human body, on the human body, on the animal and plant world are undoubtedly established by science. Man and nature are increasingly suffering from its harmful effects. According to I. I. Dedy (1990), noise pollution is a form of physical pollution, manifested in an increase in the level of noise above natural and causing anxiety in the short term, and in the long term - damage to the organs that perceive it or the death of organisms. Normal noise in the human environment varies between 35-60 dB. But new decibels are added to this background, resulting in the noise level often exceeding 100 dB. A decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit of noise that expresses the degree of sound pressure. 1dB is the lowest noise level that a person can barely detect. Nature has never been silent, it is not silent, but silent. Sound is one of its most ancient manifestations, as ancient as the Earth itself. There were always sounds and even monstrous strength and power. But still, in the natural environment, the sounds of the rustling of leaves, the murmur of a stream, bird voices, the light splash of water and the sound of the surf, which are always pleasant to humans, prevailed. They calm him down and relieve stress. Man created, and more and more new sounds appeared. After the invention of the wheel, he, according to the fair remark of the famous English acoustician R. Tylor, without realizing it, sowed the first link in the modern problem of noise. With the birth of the wheel, it began to tire and irritate people more and more often. The natural sounds of the voices of Nature have become increasingly rare, disappearing completely or are drowned out by industrial transport and other noises. The noise of trams, the roar of jet planes, the screams of loudspeakers and the like are the scourge of humanity. Airplane and noise. All airplanes make noise, and jets make more noise than most. As a result, noise levels, especially around airports, are constantly increasing as more and more jet aircraft fly on airlines and their power increases. At the same time, public dissatisfaction is growing, so aircraft designers have to work hard on how to make jet aircraft less noisy. The roar of a jet engine is caused mainly by the rapid mixing of exhaust gases with the outside air. Its volume directly depends on the speed of collision of gases with air. It is greatest when the engines are at full power before the aircraft takes off. One way to reduce noise is to use turbofan engines, in which most of the intake air bypasses the combustion chamber, resulting in a reduced rate of exhaust gas emission. Turbofan engines are now used on most modern passenger airliners. Typically, the noise level of jet engines is measured in decibels (dB) of actual perceived noise, which takes into account, in addition to the loudness of the sound, its pitch and duration. Inside the ear. When a jet plane flies above you, it spreads sound waves around itself in the form of fluctuations in air pressure levels. These waves create vibrations in your eardrum, which transmits them through three small bones - the malleus, incus and stapes - into the air-filled middle ear. From there, the vibrations travel into the fluid-filled inner ear, passing through the semicircular canals, which control your balance, and the cochlea. The auditory nerve responds to fluid vibrations in the cochlea, converting them into coded impulses. The impulses enter the brain, where they are deciphered, and as a result we hear sound. The effect of noise on organisms Researchers have found that noise can destroy plant cells. For example, experiments have shown that plants exposed to sound bombardment dry out and die. The cause of death is excessive release of moisture through the leaves: when the noise level exceeds a certain limit, the flowers literally burst into tears. If you place a carnation next to a radio playing at full volume, the flower will wither. Trees in the city die much earlier than in the natural environment. The bee loses its ability to navigate and stops working when exposed to the noise of a jet plane. A concrete example of the impact of noise on living organisms can be considered the following event two years ago. Thousands of unhatched chicks died on the Ptichya spit near the Bystroe branch (Danube delta) as a result of dredging work carried out by the German company Mobius by order of the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine. The noise from the operating equipment spread over 5-7 km, having a negative impact on the adjacent territories of the Danube Biosphere Reserve. Representatives of the Danube Biosphere Reserve and 3 other organizations were forced to painfully acknowledge the death of the entire colony of spotted tern and common tern, which were located on Ptichya Spit. From the Survey Report of Ptichya Spit dated July 16, 2004: “As a result of the actual examination of Ptichya Spit (near the Bystroe branch) at the location of large colonies of the spotted-billed tern (950 nests and 430 nests - according to the results of the census on June 28, 2004) and common tern (120 nests - according to the same records) on an area of ​​approximately 120x130 meters and an area of ​​approximately 30x20 meters, the remains of many hundreds of eggs of the indicated species were found. The nature of their damage clearly indicates that the chicks did not hatch from them. The estimated time for the chicks of this colony to begin hatching was July 20th. The most likely reason for the disappearance of the colony (there are currently no adult birds in its place) is excessive disturbance caused by the dredging equipment operating nearby, as well as the boats serving it.” After this, a representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has the audacity to declare that “The construction of the Danube-Black Sea Canal does not violate the ecological balance of the Danube Delta.” This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Konstantin Grishchenko, in response to calls from representatives of the EU and a number of international environmental organizations to stop the construction of the canal until an environmental assessment is carried out (according to the newspaper “Voice of Ukraine”). Taking advantage of this position of the Government of Ukraine, the Ministry of Transport, the companies Delta - Pilot and Mobius are absolutely not going to make any efforts to minimize the damage from the construction of the canal. On the contrary, on July 17, a representative of Delta-Lotsman announced the imminent start of demolition of trees and the berth of the reserve in the area of ​​​​the Bystroe cordon - that is, in an area that is not deprived of protected status. Thus, while the President of Ukraine, without a shadow of embarrassment, in negotiations with the European Union speaks about the harmlessness of the canal for the unique nature of the Danube Delta, the Ministry of Transport, Mobius and Delta Pilot are doing everything to ensure that there is nothing to protect in the Ukrainian part of the delta. To date, about 8,000 letters from all over the world have been sent to various authorities in defense of the Danube Nature Reserve. Noise pollution One of the types of air pollution in cities is noise. Noise is one of the atmospheric pollutants harmful to humans. The irritating effect of sound (noise) on a person depends on its intensity, spectral composition and duration of exposure. Noises with continuous spectrums are less irritating than noises with a narrow frequency range. The greatest irritation is caused by noise in the frequency range of 3000-5000 Hz. Working in conditions of increased noise at first causes rapid fatigue and sharpens hearing at high frequencies. Then the person gets used to the noise, sensitivity to high frequencies drops sharply, and hearing deterioration begins, which gradually develops into hearing loss and deafness. At a noise intensity of 145-140 dB, vibrations occur in the soft tissues of the nose and throat, as well as in the bones of the skull and teeth; if the intensity exceeds 140 dB, then the chest, muscles of the arms and legs begin to vibrate, pain in the ears and head, extreme fatigue and irritability appear; At noise levels above 160 dB, eardrums may rupture. However, noise has a detrimental effect not only on the hearing aid, but also on the human central nervous system, the functioning of the heart, and causes many other diseases. One of the most powerful sources of noise are helicopters and airplanes, especially supersonic ones. Given the high requirements for precision and reliability of control of a modern aircraft that are placed on the crew aircraft , increased noise levels have a negative impact on the performance and speed of information acceptance by the crew. The noise created by airplanes causes hearing impairment and other painful phenomena among airport ground service workers, as well as among residents of populated areas over which airplanes fly. The negative impact on people depends not only on the level of maximum noise generated by the aircraft during flight, but also on the duration of operation, the total number of overflights per day and the background noise level. The intensity of noise and the area of ​​distribution are significantly influenced by meteorological conditions: wind speed, its distribution and air temperature at altitude, clouds and precipitation. The noise problem has become especially acute in connection with the operation of supersonic aircraft. They are associated with noise, sonic boom and vibration of homes near airports. Modern supersonic aircraft generate noise whose intensity significantly exceeds the maximum permissible standards. The introduction of new technological processes into industry, an increase in the power and speed of technological equipment, and the mechanization of production processes have led to the fact that people in production and at home are constantly exposed to high levels of noise. The fight against noise is a complex problem. In article 12 of the law “on the protection of atmospheric air” adopted in 1980. it is noted that “in order to combat industrial and other noise, the following should be carried out, in particular: the introduction of low-noise technological processes, improvement of the planning and development of cities and other populated areas, organizational measures to prevent and reduce household noise.” Noise is any sound that is unwanted by humans. Under normal atmospheric conditions, the speed of sound in air is 344 m/s. A sound field is a region of space in which sound waves propagate. When a sound wave propagates, energy transfer occurs. The noise level is measured in units expressing the degree of sound pressure - decibels (dB). This pressure is not perceived infinitely. Noise of 20–30 dB is practically harmless to humans and constitutes a natural background sound, without which life is impossible. As for “loud sounds,” here the permissible limit rises to approximately 80 dB. A noise of 130 dB already causes pain in a person, and when it reaches 150 dB it becomes unbearable for him. It was not for nothing that in the Middle Ages there was execution - “to the bell”; the ringing of a bell killed a man. If in the 60s and 70s of the last century the noise on the streets did not exceed 80 dB, now it reaches 100 dB or more. On many busy highways, even at night, the noise does not drop below 70 dB, while according to sanitary standards it should not exceed 40 dB. According to experts, noise in large cities increases annually by approximately 1 dB. Considering the level already achieved, it is easy to imagine the very sad consequences of this noise “invasion”. More and more new super-powerful sound sources are appearing, for example: the noise of a jet plane, a space rocket. The level of industrial noise is very high. In many industries it reaches 80 - 100 dB or more, contributing to an increase in the number of errors in work, reducing labor productivity by about 10 - 15% and at the same time significantly deteriorating its quality. Depending on the level and nature of the noise, its duration, as well as the individual characteristics of a person, noise can have various effects on him. Noise, even when it is small, creates a significant load on the human nervous system, having a psychological effect on him. This is especially common in people engaged in mental activity. Low noise affects people differently. The reason for this may be: age, health status, type of work. The impact of noise also depends on the individual's attitude towards it. Thus, the noise produced by the person himself does not bother him, while small extraneous noise can cause a strong irritating effect. Lack of necessary silence, especially at night, leads to premature fatigue. High-level noises can be good soil for the development of persistent insomnia, neuroses and atherosclerosis. Under the influence of noise from 85 – 90 dB, hearing sensitivity at high frequencies decreases. A person complains of feeling unwell for a long time. Symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, excessive irritability. All this is the result of working in noisy conditions. Until some time, the effect of noise on humans has not been the object of special research. Nowadays, the effect of sound and noise on the functions of the body is studied by a whole branch of science - audology. It was found that the noise natural origin(the sound of the sea surf, foliage, rain, the murmur of a stream and others) have a beneficial effect on the human body, calm it, and induce healing sleep. Among the senses, hearing is one of the most important. Thanks to it, we are able to analyze the whole variety of sounds and the external environment around us. Hearing is always awake, to a certain extent even at night, in sleep. It is constantly exposed to irritation because it does not have any protective devices similar, for example, to eyelids that protect the eyes from light. The ear is one of the most complex and delicate organs; it perceives both very weak and very strong sounds. Under the influence of strong noise, especially high-frequency noise, irreversible changes occur in the organ of hearing. At high noise levels, hearing sensitivity drops within 1–2 years; at medium levels, it is detected much later, after 5–10 years, that is, hearing loss occurs slowly, and the disease develops gradually. It is therefore especially important to take appropriate noise protection measures in advance. Today, almost everyone exposed to noise at work is at risk of becoming deaf. Acoustic irritations gradually, like poison, accumulate in the body, increasingly depressing the nervous system. The strength, balance and mobility of nervous processes change - all the more so the more intense the noise. The reaction to noise is often expressed in increased excitability and irritability, covering the entire sphere of sensory perceptions. People exposed to constant noise often find it difficult to communicate. So, noise has a destructive effect on the entire human body. Its disastrous work is also facilitated by the fact that we are practically defenseless against noise. A blindingly bright light makes us instinctively close our eyes. The same instinct of self-preservation saves us from being burned by moving our hand away from the fire or from a hot surface. But humans do not have a protective reaction to the effects of noise. Many countries have seriously thought about the problem of noise “invasion”, and some have taken certain measures. Due to the increase in noise, one can imagine the state of people in 10 years. Therefore, this problem must be addressed, otherwise the consequences may be catastrophic. Conclusion Nature conservation is the task of our century, a problem that has become social. Time and again we hear about the dangers threatening the environment, but many of us still consider them an unpleasant but inevitable product of civilization and believe that we will still have time to cope with all the difficulties that have arisen. However, human impact on the environment has reached alarming proportions. To fundamentally improve the situation, targeted and thoughtful actions will be needed. A responsible and effective policy towards the environment will be possible only if we accumulate reliable data on the current state of the environment, reasonable knowledge about the interaction of important environmental factors, and if we develop new methods for reducing and preventing harm caused to Nature by Man. The time is already coming when the world may suffocate if Man does not come to the aid of Nature. Only Man has the ecological talent to keep the world around him clean.