In the EU, more than 10 ways to combat 100 million NOISE POLLUTION Implementation: Over 3,000 km of noise barriers have been installed alongside European rail networks. They are even more Implementation: European freight trains are being citizens widely used alongside roads, including in Austria, Denmark, France, retrofitted with low-noise brake blocks. A complete are affected by noise Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain & the Netherlands. ban on ‘noisy’ cast iron blocks is due to take place in Germany, the Netherlands & Switzerland in 2020. levels harmful to their health. Implementation: Traffic management strategies are Noise barriers widely used across Europe. A Norwegian study In Paris & Valencia there is Traffic dBr: Brake blocks Implementation: 3-20 dB of façade insulation found an average restricted access for heavy management for trains goods vehicles, while Annecy noise reduction of 7 dB inside buildings decibel reduction (dBr): & Parma have implemented & a 30% reduction in annoyance. dBr: 1–4 dB shuttle bus services to ECTIVENES 8-10 decibels T-EFF S SC reduce private car use. OS OR (dB) Road traffic is C E the major source of Electric Building cars noise pollution, followed insulation Implementation: It is unclear how widely acoustical by railway and aircraft Implementation: Electric cars have the dBr: 1 dB dBr: 5-10 dB architectural planning is used. noise. potential to reduce noise. Administrative action is needed for large-scale use. Land-use Building planning & design Implementation: Computer Implementation: Quieter design driving could be incorporated models can predict noise dBr: exposure & identify areas dBr: into existing campaigns 2–15 dB Noise pollution is unsuitable for development. Unknown promoting ‘eco-driving’ to save No houses should be allowed fuel & reduce air pollution (e.g. associated with under landing and take-off, http://www.ecodriver.org). for instance. Low-noise Changing health effects, tyres driving styles Quiet road dBr: dBr: such as cardiovascular surfaces 3–4 dB 5–7 dB Implementation: Low-noise surfaces have been disease, sleep Implementation: Several have trialled in Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands dBr: 3–7 dB disturbance, stress, been developed & are on sale & UK. New applications on the European market. include using crumb reduced cognitive rubber from end-of-life performance, and tyres, following a circular- psychological economy approach. effects. For more information, see the SfEP Future Brief, ‘Noise abatement approaches’, or sign up for the Science for Environment Policy News Alert at http://ec.europa.eu/science-environment-policy.