--- title: What is noise pollution? description: Echo Barrier’s acoustic barriers are all about mitigating the impact of intrusive sound. But why is noise pollution such a big deal? Let’s not beat around --- [![LOGO-ECHO-BARRIER-DARK](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/LOGO-ECHO-BARRIER-DARK.png?width=938&name=LOGO-ECHO-BARRIER-DARK.png)](https://www.echobarrier.co.uk/) ![](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/w-expand-white.svg) Get in touch [Industries](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries) [Construction](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/construction-noise-barriers) [Demolition](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/demolition-barriers) [Events](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/event-noise-barriers) [Highway](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/road-noise-barriers) [Mining](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/mining-barriers) [Oil & Gas](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/oil-gas-acoustic-barriers) [Rail](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/rail-noise-reduction-barriers) [Utilities](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/utilities-barriers) [Why Echo Barrier](https://echobarrier.co.uk/why-echo-barrier) [Products](https://echobarrier.co.uk/noise-reduction-barriers) [Case Studies](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries/construction-noise-barriers#casestudy) [Installation](https://echobarrier.co.uk/acoustic-barrier-installation) [Bespoke Barriers](https://echobarrier.co.uk/bespoke-acoustic-barriers) [Customer Service](https://echobarrier.co.uk/customer-service) [Barrier Calculation Tool](https://echobarrier.co.uk/barrier-calculation-tool) About us [Environment](https://echobarrier.co.uk/why-echo-barrier#echobarrier-environment) [Our approach](https://echobarrier.co.uk#echobarrier-our-approach) [Become a distributor](https://echobarrier.co.uk/become-a-distributor) [Acoustic barrier technology](https://echobarrier.co.uk/acoustic-barrier-technology) [Authenticate Barriers](https://echobarrier.co.uk/authenticate-your-echo-barrier-products) [Find a supplier](https://echobarrier.co.uk/find-a-supplier) Other [Quality assurance](https://echobarrier.co.uk#echobarrier-quality-assurance) [Blog](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/) [FAQs](https://echobarrier.co.uk/customer-service#faqs) [Associations](https://echobarrier.co.uk#echobarrier-associations) [Careers](https://echobarrier.co.uk/careers) [Our Videos](https://echobarrier.co.uk/our-videos) - ![search](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/Search-Icon-EB-Black.png) Get in touch - [Why Echo Barrier?](https://echobarrier.co.uk/why-echo-barrier) - [Products](https://echobarrier.co.uk/noise-reduction-barriers) - [Industries](https://echobarrier.co.uk/industries) - Quote ![](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/w-expand.svg) # Here to help Please fill in the form or call +44 (0) 845 561 3246 and we will be in touch. ![](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/w-expand.svg) # Ready to quote? Echo Barrier quote request UK, call us on +44 (0) 845 561 3246 Or fill in the form below and one of our sales team will be in touch. # Echo Barrier UK blog Share [![Share on facebook](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/facebook-social.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/linkedin-social.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/twitter-social.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/pinterest-social.svg)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&media=) # What is noise pollution? Posted by [Tom Peary](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/author/tom) on Dec 11, 2019 12:00:00 AM | [noise reduction](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/tag/noise-reduction) Share [![Share on facebook](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/facebook-social.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/linkedin-social.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/twitter-social.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/hubfs/EchoBarrier%202022/pinterest-social.svg)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.echobarrier.co.uk/what-is-noise-pollution&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&media=) **Echo Barrier’s acoustic barriers are all about mitigating the impact of intrusive sound. But why is noise pollution such a big deal?** Let’s not beat around the bush. Noise is a killer. Numerous studies have found that being subjected to loud noises or ongoing elevated sound can cause a wide range of medical problems – from hearing impairment, tinnitus and stress right through to hypertension, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular disease. That’s right. We need to take this bad boy seriously. But how do we know what is harmful and what is not? And once we know, how do we protect ourselves and others? ##### **What is noise pollution?** Noise pollution is defined as harmful or annoying levels of noise. Bit wishy washy isn’t it? After all, some people may be more tolerant of certain noises than others. According to Action on Hearing Loss the threshold level at which your hearing can become damaged over time is 85 decibels (dB), which is the equivalent of a food blender. Here are some sounds and their decibel equivalent: - Rocket launch – 180dB - Fireworks – 170dB - Stadium crowd cheer – 130dB - Live rock band – 130dB - Popping balloon – 120dB - Chain saw – 105 dB - Lawn mower – 100 dB - Heavy traffic 95dB - Welder 90dB - Blow drying hair – 80dB - Car at 65mph – 77dB - Normal conversation – 60dB - Bird call 40dB ###### **Noise in the eyes of the law** Noise pollution can be deemed a statutory nuisance (Environmental Protection Act 1990) if it is likely to injure health or substantially interfere with the enjoyment of your home or other premises. If this happens, you can complain to your [local authority](https://www.echobarrier.co.uk/nuisance-neighbours-making-too-much-noise/) who must serve an abatement notice to the people responsible for the noise. Councils can also serve a notice on people carrying out construction or demolition works if they have not adequately taken precautions to protect both workers and the community from the level of noise. However this is something that should be considered at the [planning application](https://www.echobarrier.co.uk/why-noise-pollution-should-be-at-the-forefront-of-your-planning-application/) stage of any development. One [council](https://www.echobarrier.co.uk/why-its-vital-that-local-authorities-consider-noise-as-an-issue/) in Oxfordshire has even hired a specialist offer to liaise with developers to ensure they are implementing environmental regulations to a sufficient level. ###### **Solving the invisible pollutant** We talk a lot about noise because it is at the heart of everything Echo Barrier do - and it is important that you are thinking about it just as much as we are. We are accredited by Quiet Mark - an international noise reduction accreditation - and we take this statement from its founder, Poppy Szkiler, very seriously: “noise is an invisible pollutant that affects our breathing, brain waves and well-being.” Poppy also states that “silence replenishes and calms” compared to noise, and that’s why we have created our award-winning [acoustic barriers](https://www.echobarrier.co.uk/noise-reduction-barriers/). Our temporary acoustic barriers can reduce noise pollution by up to 99% and can be used on construction sites as well as at live music events. 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