Patrycja Chacińska, head of the Environmental Acoustics Laboratory at the Institute of Environmental Protection, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that urban noise comes from many sources, including transport, industry and the everyday activities of residents.

Noise is generally defined as unwanted sound, but its impact depends not only on its volume but also on its characteristics.

Urban noise can be divided according to its source. It may come from road, rail, tram and air traffic, as well as from industrial activity. There is also behavioural and communal noise associated with everyday life, including children's voices and barking dogs.

According to Chacińska, industrial noise has the smallest impact because it is subject to the most extensive legal regulation.

'If noise standards are exceeded in these areas, a fine is imposed on the plant that is its source, thanks to which industrial noise is not so common, even though it is bothersome', Chacińska says.

She says that industrial noise could include, for example, a fan from a local store.

'If a resident complains about this, appropriate legal steps can be taken, which means that if the permissible level is actually exceeded, the competent authority may impose a financial penalty on such a store and order the reduction of the impact', she says.

More complicated are temporary activities such as construction and renovation work, concerts and mass events, for which universal permissible sound levels have not been established in the same way as for some other sources of noise.

This does not mean they are outside the law, however. Depending on the circumstances, regulations governing mass events, environmental protection and disturbance of the peace and nighttime rest may apply.

In the case of construction and renovation work, the relevant authorities can set conditions for carrying it out or impose measures to limit its impact on the environment. In practice, Chacińska says, this may mean restricting the noisiest work to daytime hours.

Traffic noise is more difficult to address.

'When choosing an apartment close to a busy street, you have to take the noise into account', she says.

'I look with horror at what is happening in the development area. Residential buildings are being built along communication routes, near industrial areas or in areas of limited use. Every resident should be aware that when purchasing a so-called well-connected apartment with a view of an artery, they should not expect it to be quiet. They should not count on being able to open the window freely in the summer', the expert says.

Chacińska advises people to check strategic noise maps before choosing where to live.

'Strategic noise maps are being created in Poland and throughout Europe for cities with over 100,000 inhabitants, and along main roads and railway lines. They are publicly available online. They can be used to check the noise level in the area where you live', she says.

Different types of traffic noise also vary in how bothersome they are. Chacińska says aircraft noise is considered the most annoying, while railway noise is generally perceived as less disturbing.

'Railway noise is considered more friendly because the clatter of the train can even calm some people down. The exception are high-speed railways, above 250 km/h', she says.

In road transport, particularly troublesome noise can be produced by diesel vehicles, especially at low frequencies, as well as motorcycles. Diesel-powered buses were therefore once considered particularly problematic from an acoustic perspective.

More buses are now being replaced by electric models, which are much quieter, particularly at lower speeds. They are not completely silent, however, as the noise from tyres rolling on the road and vehicle systems can still be heard.

Among the most bothersome types of noise are so-called impulse sounds.

'These are sounds that appear suddenly and to which the human ear cannot get used to and does not adapt. While we can get used to traffic noise and some people do not even register this source of noise, we cannot get used to impulse noise', Chacińska says.

Examples include car doors slamming, gunshots, New Year's Eve firecrackers, church bells and barking dogs.

Another category is tonal noise, characterised by a distinct tone or frequency that clearly stands out from other sounds.

'There is also another group of sounds that can have a significant impact on people. This is tonal noise, characterized by a distinct tone or frequency that clearly stands out. Such sounds do not need to be intense to be highly bothersome. A clearly audible, dominant tone can cause a greater sense of annoyance than noise at a similar level but without a distinct tonal component', Chacińska says.

'While there is a specific methodology for measuring and assessing impulse noise from industrial sources, no separate permissible noise level limits exist for tonal noise - even though standards accounting for its tonal character are available', she adds.

Noise levels do not necessarily increase with the size of a city, Chacińska says, although population density can be an important factor. The way a city functions and the habits of its residents also matter.

'If a city has cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating and loud music playing outside late into the night, noise levels may be higher. Conversely, if such activities are kept indoors, it is quieter', she says.

Some countries have stricter noise regulations than Poland. Chacińska cites Madrid, where an event organiser was forced to stop a concert after noise monitoring showed that permissible limits had been exceeded.

'Such a scenario seems unthinkable in Poland at the moment', she says.(PAP)

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