Noise isn't normally considered a pervasive problem in our society despite it's widely documented impacts upon both human and wildlife health. And yet, there it is - ubiquitous, annoying, accepted, and impactful. There is extensive evidence showing that loud sound can have a significant impact on life, ranging from human ailments such as heart disease to impacts on endangered species in protected areas such as our National Parks. Anthropogenic sounds include those from cities but also from tourism in parks, military sonar in an ocean, airplanes, agricultural landscapes, or just plain traffic noise that permeates even into our homes.
There is extensive literature out there about impacts on human health (see resources below). Noise pollution can cause cognitive impairment, distraction of both people and wildlife, induced stress, and altered behavior and physiology. Scientists have found that people living near major airports that experienced just a 10-decibel increase in aircraft noise were far more likely to use anxiety medication. Or that people living in areas with more road traffic noise were 25 percent more likely than those living in quieter neighborhoods to have symptoms of depression. And people exposed to noise pollution were far more likely to have heart problems like atrial fibrillation compared to those unaffected by noise. But for our purposes, we will explore the impacts on nature and the role that protected areas should play in providing protective refuge for both people and wildlife.
There is extensive literature out there about impacts on human health (see resources below). Noise pollution can cause cognitive impairment, distraction of both people and wildlife, induced stress, and altered behavior and physiology. Scientists have found that people living near major airports that experienced just a 10-decibel increase in aircraft noise were far more likely to use anxiety medication. Or that people living in areas with more road traffic noise were 25 percent more likely than those living in quieter neighborhoods to have symptoms of depression. And people exposed to noise pollution were far more likely to have heart problems like atrial fibrillation compared to those unaffected by noise. But for our purposes, we will explore the impacts on nature and the role that protected areas should play in providing protective refuge for both people and wildlife.
Specific to animals, noise can distract and inhibit communication, impact their use of habitat and even reduce their reproductive potential. Noise pollution can also impact the distribution and behavior of key species that can alter ecosystem integrity. For example, "a bird whose song would normally travel 100 meters would, with a 10-fold increase in noise, have its melody stifled to a 10-meter radius." This problem affects many biological groups such as birds, amphibians , reptiles, fish, mammals, and invertebrates. It also impacts all types of ecosystems including terrestrial, aquatic and coastal.
A study of noise impacts in protected areas in the US found that 12.1% of wilderness areas "still experienced anthropogenic sound levels 3 dB above predicted natural levels, indicating that they are not entirely 'untrammeled by man' as defined by the Wilderness Act (U.S. C. 1131-1136, sec. 3c, 1964)." Wilderness areas are supposed to be remote sites with low background noise. And yet, even our most protected and isolated - last frontiers - are being inundated with noise pollution. This same study found that noise pollution from humans has "doubled sound levels in more than half of all protected areas in the United States—from local nature reserves to national parks—and it has made some places 10 times louder."
Noise was even a problem in 58% of endangered species habitat - in critically protected protected areas - where wildlife experienced 3 to 10 dB of human-induced sound. And studies have found that anthropogenic noise is present in most protected areas and is pervasive in those near developed areas where noise exceeds levels known to impact human and wildlife health. There is some hope in the US because 63% of endangered species experiencing noise pollution in excess of 10 dB had critical habitat partially within federal protected areas.
On the National Park Mission Statement they describe their mission: "The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." In other words, the park service is there to provide for the people but also to protect natural wonders. That presently is not happening. Noise doesn't just annoy people, but can counter all the benefits that people experience when they go to some of our natural wonders. Whether it be Green Exercise or Forest Bathing, there is widespread evidence that our green spaces provide innumerable benefits to mental and physical health, but only as long as they are indeed protected from noise.
A study of noise impacts in protected areas in the US found that 12.1% of wilderness areas "still experienced anthropogenic sound levels 3 dB above predicted natural levels, indicating that they are not entirely 'untrammeled by man' as defined by the Wilderness Act (U.S. C. 1131-1136, sec. 3c, 1964)." Wilderness areas are supposed to be remote sites with low background noise. And yet, even our most protected and isolated - last frontiers - are being inundated with noise pollution. This same study found that noise pollution from humans has "doubled sound levels in more than half of all protected areas in the United States—from local nature reserves to national parks—and it has made some places 10 times louder."
Noise was even a problem in 58% of endangered species habitat - in critically protected protected areas - where wildlife experienced 3 to 10 dB of human-induced sound. And studies have found that anthropogenic noise is present in most protected areas and is pervasive in those near developed areas where noise exceeds levels known to impact human and wildlife health. There is some hope in the US because 63% of endangered species experiencing noise pollution in excess of 10 dB had critical habitat partially within federal protected areas.
On the National Park Mission Statement they describe their mission: "The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." In other words, the park service is there to provide for the people but also to protect natural wonders. That presently is not happening. Noise doesn't just annoy people, but can counter all the benefits that people experience when they go to some of our natural wonders. Whether it be Green Exercise or Forest Bathing, there is widespread evidence that our green spaces provide innumerable benefits to mental and physical health, but only as long as they are indeed protected from noise.
Noise exceedance of 1.25, 3.01, 6.02, and 10 dB corresponds, respectively, to 25, 50, 75, and 90% reductions in listening area (the area at which an acoustic signal can be detected) for humans. Gray areas are outside the protected area network. Buxton, R. T., McKenna, M. F., Mennitt, D., Fristrup, K., Crooks, K., Angeloni, L., & Wittemyer, G. (2017). Noise pollution is pervasive in US protected areas. Science, 356(6337), 531-533.
As one of our nations most widely supported programs and a program that generates jobs and massive return on investment, it does beg the question: 'why don't we expand them, fund them, and maintain them not only for people but for the wildlife that they are supposed to protect?' Currently 12% of the US is designated protected areas; however, this includes massive areas run by Bureau of Land Management and Forestry Department whose rights are sold out for grazing, mining, logging, oil and gas drilling and growing crops. And to start, in order to mitigate our noise impacts on nature, maybe we should take Edward Abbey's advice from decades ago, "No more cars in national parks," or at least minimize the noise generated by traffic in supposedly protected areas.
Resources
Evidence of the impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map
Is Noise Pollution the Next Big Public-Health Crisis?
Noise pollution is pervasive in U.S. protected areas
Noise pollution is invading even the most protected natural areas
A Modest Proposal: We Need More National Parks
Landmark Investment in Our National Parks Is Underway
Noise pollution is a major problem, both for human health and the environment
Airport noise and wildlife conservation: What are we missing?
Citation: Helenbrook, W. (2022). Noise pollution, wildlife and national parks. The Tropical Conservation Review.