50,000 EU deaths a year due to car noise

A new study has found that 50,000 heart attacks every year in the EU are related to noise pollution from transport.

In a report documenting the results of the study, researchers claim that noise from rail and roads in Europe is linked to an additional 200,000 cases of heart disease.

The report, published by the transport campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E), states that 210 million - almost half - of Europe’s residents are frequently exposed to traffic noise pollution which is potentially damaging to health. A further 35 million are exposed to damaging levels of noise from railways.

The World Health Organisation says that any noise above 55 decibels is likely to have negative health effects.

T&E’s noise policy officer, Nina Renshaw, said: “Unlike air pollution, which most major European cities are now starting to tackle, noise has been ignored for decades as the problem has worsened and the negative impacts of society have increased.”

T&E’s report estimates that traffic noise pollution costs Europe over €40 billion every year, including costs for health care. The report recommends that the EU introduces regulations to reduce tyre noise limits to 71 decibels by 2012, with a lower limit by 2016.

Environmental Protection UK have welcomed the results of the study. Their noise policy officer, Mary Stevens, said: “The publication of this report is opportune.

“We hope this research will encourage Government to accelerate integrated action towards managing transport noise - the pollutant that has an immediate effect on the quality of life of everyone.”