Sound and noise

Harmful effects of noise on general health

The impact of noise depends on how it is perceived by the individual. Even at low intensity, it can act as a stress factor due to the discomfort and disturbances it causes. It can therefore have negative effects on overall health. Among the adverse effects associated with noise exposure are:

• an increase in cortisol and adrenaline levels;
• an increase in blood pressure and heart rate;
• sleep disturbances;
• mental fatigue and reduced concentration;
• increased irritability;
• a decrease in overall well-being.

Harmful effects of noise on hearing

Two main types of auditory trauma can be distinguished:

• Acute acoustic trauma: hearing disorders occur following brief but very intense sound events, such as explosions or detonations.
• Chronic acoustic trauma: hearing disorders result from prolonged exposure to noise over a long period, often several years.

Continuous exposure to noise, as is often the case in the workplace, initially causes a reversible hearing disorder. If further exposure occurs before the auditory system has recovered, permanent damage may result.

Primarily, damage to the auditory system can lead to hearing loss. Depending on the severity and the frequencies affected, hearing loss may impair speech understanding and become disabling.

In addition to hearing loss, the most common consequences of acoustic trauma include tinnitus, hyperacusis (increased sensitivity to sounds), and sound distortions.

A daily exposure of 8 hours at an intensity of 85 dB(A) is considered the threshold above which the risk of permanent hearing damage increases significantly. The higher the sound intensity and/or the longer the exposure duration, the greater the likelihood of developing hearing disorders.