For centuries, sounds were accepted as appropriate in their environment without any problems. Even with the advent of industrialization and the noise of machinery that came with it, it seemed common for workers to spend mornings and evenings surrounded by noise. But that later changed under the influence of the unions. Regulations for noise were introduced that were based on the fact that (if the regulations were complied with) no further hearing damage would occur. In principle, these regulations were based on the number of decibels that noise causes. But there is also an experience of sound.
Noise and other terminology
Terms related to the general term sound each represent an aspect of sound. For example, noise is defined as loud sounds that give listeners a negative experience. A specific property of sound is referred to as noise where a certain pitch is missing. A tone is a sound with a certain number of vibrations and also has a relationship with other tones that form a melody. The term sound refers to regular vibrations that provide a pleasant experience. When we talk about timbre, we mean the characteristic quality of a sound, such as a trumpet sound or a certain voice.
Situation-based regulation
To prevent people from suffering hearing damage from certain sounds, guidelines and rules are currently laid down in detail in legislation. The limits that the government has set with regard to the production of noise depend on the situation in which the sounds occur. Different rules therefore apply in the evening and night than during the day, with the principle that it should be quieter at night.
Also municipal regulations
The standards also include whether a certain sound belongs in that location or environment. For example, a noise level of eighty decibels is acceptable in a concert hall, but the same number of decibels, caused by traffic noise, is so annoying that this is not acceptable. In addition to central government legislation, municipalities can also draw up rules and, for example, designate areas where a higher level of noise is acceptable. The rules may also depend on situations such as nature reserves or catering establishments.
Exceeding natural sounds caused by humans
For centuries, the sounds of humans could not surpass those of nature. But that changed in the mid-nineteenth century, with the exception of the occasional clap of thunder that sounded louder than what humans caused. Later, man-made sounds, such as those of airplanes and other machines taking off, could easily compete with a lion’s roar in decibels.
Electronically amplified music with high decibels
But while noise pollution was for a long time mainly caused by machines, nowadays it is often caused by music. Due to the development of sound amplification equipment, music has increasingly become the main cause of hearing damage in recent decades. This is especially true for younger people. The electronically amplified music in entertainment venues and at pop concerts is regularly played at maximum volume. While musicians should mainly be concerned with the beauty of the sounds and protect listeners from hearing problems.
Annoyance perception and acceptance limits
Measuring systems are generally based on the number of decibels produced. Another measurement method would be to start from people’s experiences and capture them in values as a measuring instrument. This initiative has been taken up in the Dutch municipality of Oss and an index has been developed that is partly based on the perception of annoyance and the limits of acceptance of noise. This perception and acceptance is based on a survey among residents, which is the most important pillar of the index. It is no longer just the decibels that determine whether the noise level is acceptable, but also the perception of the audience.
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- Noise pollution and health problems