1) Auditory Damage:
The level of noise in major cities and urban centers has become so serious that it will be a danger to public health if it continues at the present rate.
Although noise has existed around man for millions of years, its medical dangers have only been recognized since 1930, when homes were used in different kinds of vehicles running inside and between cities.
One of the earliest studies on the biological effects of noise was that sponsored by US Naval research office under the supervision of the University of Chicago, and published in early December in 1953.
It indicated that US marines who worked in noisy conditions suffered from excessive fatigue, occasional nausea, and loss of libido.
Reports filed by research committees in the following decades indicated that more than 20 million people were suffering from noise-induced hearing loss in the US alone, as noise was the most prominent of the environmental pollutants.
A study concluded in 1968 by the Federal Council of Science and Technology (specific committee for the environment) warned that about 4.5 million workers might apply for compensation for loss of hearing.
Excessive noise damages thousands of cells in the ear leading to an immediate loss of hearing, which happens in explosions and wars.
Constant exposure to noise may lead to a gradual damage of the cells and a gradual loss of hearing.
Deafness may even result from a bullet fired or an explosion.
In the former case, deafness results from auditory waves, whereas in the second it results from pressure waves.
The pathological disorders in that case involve the outer ear, as the drum congests and may be pierced due to mechanical changes.
It also involves the middle ear, as the parts may be torn and loose, then bleed and an aqueous fluid can subsequently appear in it.
Deafness means a weakening in the hearing. It may be temporary, partial or complete.
The human ear can endure sounds safely up to 60 dB, but may be injured by more intensive sounds that affect it constantly or temporarily. Deafness happens at the following stages:
- Weakness in hearing for a short period that may disappear after some minutes or hours (with occasional loud noises in factories, workshops or crowded places).
- Constant weakness, due to which one fails to hear a quiet talking (usually resulting from continuous daily exposure to high noise).
- Complete permanent deafness (resulting from a continuous daily exposure to very high noise like explosions and bombs).
Records on workers in Sweden indicate that many are exposed to loud machinery noise daily. About 5,000 people suffered hearing loss in 1973 and the figure rose to 16,000 in 1977.
An official report of the Environment Affairs Council in USA issued in 1970 indicated that about 16 million industrial workers faced the risk of losing their jobs due to the weakness in their hearing abilities.
2) Non-auditory Damage:
The Fetus: The fetus floats on fluids that protect it from jerking movements, but barely from noise. It can hear internal sounds (the mother’s heartbeat, the movement of the intestines, and the air in her lungs) as well as external sounds (the mother’s voice and any surrounding sounds or voices). Studies indicate that the fetus experiences muscular spasms if the mother is exposed to excessive noise.
Nervous & Circulatory Systems & Endocrine Glands:
Extreme noise affects the nervous system, and creates electric pulses that travel through the nerve fibers to the brain cortex, the highest functional region in the brain. The cells of the cortex are stimulated to identify incoming noise. Sub-cortex regions are also affected, particularly the reticular formation (a lump of cells at the base of the brain) which is directly related to the higher layers of the brain up to the meninges, as well as the spinal cord.
Medical studies also indicate that noise leads to higher rates of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood, which blocks the blood vessels and leads to heart attacks and heart failure. Excessive production of the corticosteroid hormones is related to heart attacks, and is caused by the effect of noise on the adrenal gland.
3) Psychological & Social Damage:
Man – and animals – behaves properly when in a stable, normal mental state, according to the observations of psycho-sociologist Charles Kort and some of his colleagues. The study showed 2,567 cases of people who live in noisy areas and heavy traffic in Holland. Psychological studies on industrial workers indicate that those who are subject to high-density noise suffer from irritability, dizziness, headaches, moodiness and anxiety.
Children are naturally more affected by noise than adults. The mental capacities of school pupils are influenced by the surrounding noise, for example near airports where they feel distracted and frustrated. Children under 7 are the most sensitive to noise, as they become annoyed and often cry if they hear a sudden loud sound.
Soft music calms the nerves, whereas the loud music and jerky movements performed by young people in nightclubs leads to severe tension due to the effect of amplifiers, not to mention the auditory harms indicated earlier.
Calmness relaxes the nerves, noise irritates them: Concentration and deep contemplation need a calm atmosphere to allow the person to be creative. The noise from a wedding down the street to me has compelled me to stop at this point until the street is calm once again.
Generally, life in a big city like Cairo is full of noise. An intellectual can hardly be creative in such an atmosphere. Like all major cities, the roaring of machines and the clinging of steel conceal the humming of bees and the twittering of birds.
Chimneys and discharged toxic smokes replace the gardens and parks that gave sweet smells. Noise also disturbs those sleeping, leading to muscular contractions, so that one wakes up feeling tired rather than fresh.
Now, in the Glorious Quran, are the verses that call to avoid noise, such as the following: “Neither speak thy prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.” (Surat Al-Israa:110).
“O you who believe, raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet. Nor speak aloud to him in talk, as you may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become void and you perceive not. Those that lower their voices in the presence of the apostle of Allah – their hearts has Allah tested for piety: for them is forgiveness and a great Reward.” (Surat Al-Hujurat:2-3).
“And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice, for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass .” (Surat Luqman:19).