NYC noise pollution – Neil

For the final project in this class, I finally got an opportunity to make a project that relates to my bad experience in New York City life since I came here.
When I first came to NYC, I never thought the city was such noisy. Passing cars, horns, people talking on the street, also some noise that I cannot tell where it comes from, just can hear it. Somehow, this city always makes me disturbing. Even though when I stay at home, the street noise still in my mind. So for this project, I’m gonna focus on this topic and research.

• How serious and broad that noise affect

Sound measurement: decibel (dB).

here is the list from NYC noise code that gives us a general feeling of sounds measurement. Since sounds level is variable depending on the distance from the sound source, this list is based on the common distance.

1. Whisper ………………………………………………….. 30 dB(A)
2. Normal Conversation/Laughter ………………….. 50 – 65 dB(A)
3. Vacuum Cleaner at 10 feet ………………………… 70 dB(A)
4. Washing Machine/Dishwasher …………………… 78 dB(A)
5. Midtown Manhattan Traffic Noise ………………. 70 – 85 dB(A)
6. Motorcycle ……………………………………………… 88 dB(A)
7. Lawnmower ……………………………………………. 85 – 90 dB(A)
8. Train ………………………………………………………. 100 dB(A)
9. Jackhammer/Power Saw ………………………….. 110 dB(A)
10. Thunderclap ……………………………………………. 120 dB(A)
11. Stereo/Boom Box ……………………………………. 110 – 120 dB(A)
12. Nearby Jet Takeoff …………………………………… 130 dB(A)

 the interactive map from Maps Gallery

With this list, it’s easy to see on the map, how our living environment is under the violent of noise.According to the Department of Transportation’s new National Transportation Noise Map, 98 percent of Americans have to suffer through irritating truck/car/plane noises on a regular basis—worse, 19 million of us regularly endure cacophony akin to the sound of a garbage disposal.

• Noise affection on residents mental health.

New research, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, does just that—providing strong evidence that noise pollution is indeed a mental health problem. The study found that people living in areas with high traffic noise were 25 percent more likely than those in quieter neighborhoods to have symptoms of depression, even when adjusting for socioeconomic factors.

Car honk

Unnecessary honking in NYC actually happens to be illegal, while everyone does but rarely got punished.  An ill-advised honk remains illegal, carrying a fine of $350. Few are actually fined; last year, the Police Department issued 206 summonses for “unnecessary use of horn.”