But the most significant change in modern science is not just about the amount of noise, but how we experience it. Noise is no longer understood solely as a problem that affects hearing, it is also recognised as a systemic environmental pollutant. Transport noise is now one of the leading environmental cause of illness in Europe, second only to air pollution.
I’m very curious to see this study replicated in Latin America.
My experience here is dreadful. I have stress, insomnia, and irritability from the constant noise from traffic (there’s a near constant blast of cars with megaphones repeating an amplified voice of some merchant selling something like gas or brooms or juice or buying scrap metal or whatever).
On the other hand, most of the locals literally don’t notice the noise. They can sleep through it all, even fire alarms.
The evolutionary argument is interesting, but I really want to see this study repeated and confirmed in cultures that are largely ambivalent about noise pollution
I hear you, absolutely dreadful. I also wonder how can people ignore those “sounds” so effortlessly.
It’s just what you’re used to, in a way.
I grew up in a noisy third world country and could’ve slept through a drummer 10 ft away. I then moved to a first world country and have now gotten used to the relative silence that I experience here, despite living in a downtown area of a major city. Going back home to visit my parents is a nightmare because I the up waking up a million times every night because of all the sounds around.
Visiting cousins/friends who live in the suburbs of my new country gives me the creeps because of how much more quieter it is. So I end up getting nightmares of being in some post apocalyptic world when I stay over at their places. So, I can’t sleep through complete silence either. 🤷♂️
I’m not convinced. It must depend on the person. I’ve lived in such a country for way over a year and I could never get used to it.
When you’re a a baby that falls asleep on a rickety ass bus bouncing around and blasting Latin music with loud brass instruments, it’s the comfort that rocks you to sleep.
If you experience that all through adolescence, it’s normalized. When you’re adult that’s lived through it your whole life, it’s normal.
That’s completely different than someone getting used to it
But I still think it’s unhealthy for everyone, as the article points out