7.2 The Airport and The Environment

 Noise Pollution

There are several environmental factors in the aviation industry that can have quite an impact. Environmental factors are aspects, such as temperature, light, sound, pollutants, population density, and more, that can impede human health and wellness. Three specific and significant environmental categories are air pollution, noise pollution, and water pollution. Today, I will be focusing on noise pollution. Noise pollution is an invisible danger. Noise which is produced by aircrafts in flight is associated with numerous negative stresses facilitated health effects. Aviation can has come a long way in several qualities but particularly technology-wise. Turboprops that used to power aircrafts were loud and noisy, over time, this improved but there is no doubt they still continue to make a disturbance. There have been numerous studies done to show exactly how significant noise pollution is harmful. A specific study done by the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) showed that constant exposure to noise like such of an aircraft in airports, may reduce detection of memory, cause someone to become more fatigued, and lead to heart disease and hypertension (Basner, M., Clark, C., Hansell, A., Hileman, J. I., Janssen, S., Shepherd, K., & Sparrow, V., 2017). One way to mitigate noise pollution, the ICAO, International Civil Aviation Organization, introduced a new standard to noise reduction, Chapter 14. It specifies new aircraft need to be at least seven decibels quieter than those built to the previous Chapter Four standard (Beresnevicius, n.d.). Because engines are the main contributors to overall noise emitted from these aircrafts, modern engines are now produced with higher bypass ratios, new positions in aircraft, and the size of the fan blades in the engines. The main priority of reducing noise pollution is to better the quality of life of people who live near airports or busy flight paths as it can have detrimental consequences on one’s health.

Noise Pollution Isn't Just a Problem for Urban Areas - Pacific Standard 5 Technology | Technology for a Quieter America | The National Academies Press

 


References: 

Basner, M., Clark, C., Hansell, A., Hileman, J. I., Janssen, S., Shepherd, K., & Sparrow, V. (2017). Aviation Noise

    Impacts: State of the Science. Noise & Health, 19(87), 41–50. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_104_16 


Beresnevicius, R. (n.d.). Why is Reducing Noise Pollution Crucial for Aviation? Aerotime Hub.

    https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/23851-aircraft-noise-pollution-aviation

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