Population exposure to noise in cities with over 100 thousand inhabitants
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Strategic noise maps for 2021 were developed within the framework of environmental monitoring. They illustrate the acoustic condition in cities with over 100 thousand inhabitants. The maps provided the basis for the "Population exposure to noise in cities with over 100 thousand inhabitants" survey which allowed i.a. to estimate the number of people exposed to road traffic, railway, aircraft and industrial noise exceeding the permissible sound levels.
Noise pollution is a major environmental phenomena adversely affecting the health and well-being of millions of Europeans. At least 20% of the EU population is exposed to health impact of noise1.
In Poland, population exposure to noise is monitored based on the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The exposure is assessed using LDEN, day-evening-night noise indicator for overall annoyance and LNight night noise indicator for sleep disturbance.
Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law, the mayors of indicated cities are obliged to submit strategic noise maps to the Inspector General for Environmental Protection every five years (no later than 30 June). 36 cities took part in the fourth round of acoustic mapping in 2021.
1 "Environmental noise in Europe -2020" European Environment Agency (EEA) report.
