The regulation of noise pollution in the European Union : a Maltese perspective

Abstract

Noise can originate from a variety of sources, ranging from noisy neighbours and barking dogs to industry and transport. Noise is produced by almost everything humans do. This, eventually, can lead to individuals getting used to the noise disturbances surrounding them. But unfortunately this attitude also means the acceptance of excessive and damaging amounts of noise. Exposure to noise no louder than people shouting for eight hours a day, five days a week can lead to substantial hearing loss in a matter of a few years. Yet people continue working and allow others to work amidst heavy machinery, impact tools, and screaming turbofan jet engines. Nowadays hearing loss is being accepted as a part of the normal aging process, even though in many cases it does not have to be. The Introduction of this dissertation takes a general outlook at the international standards as regards noise pollution. Although it is very difficult to set international standards due to increasing population densities and increasing use of noisy electronic equipment, some early standards were set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The European Union (EU) was on the vanguard in implementing these standards, as well as adopting new legislation which further got rid of noise pollution.