The constant rumble of traffic and people brings cities to life. But is it also making us sick? The ill-effects of noise pollution are now well documented, with cities declaring open war on the not-so-silent killer. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
Clément Dargent lives in one of Paris's liveliest and trendiest neighbourhoods, the 10th arrondissement. Moving into a centrally located apartment seemed like a perfectly sensible idea, he recalls. Dargent and his young family had recently moved back to France from New York City and were excited to rekindle with the French capital. But life quickly became unbearable. The constant noise turned into an obsession, a form of "aggression", in Dargent's words. With its uninterrupted flow of trucks, scooters, and motorbikes, the road the family lives on is one of Paris's noisiest. Dargent has made it its mission to fight against noise pollution, joining an association that campaigns against car and scooter traffic."Solutions exist," he claims, wishing that authorities were doing more to reduce noise in the French capital. >> Sounding off: The hidden cost of noise pollution in FranceA long-overlooked public health issueAccording to the World Health Organization, noise pollution is the second-most significant environmental factor contributing to health problems, trailing only air pollution. Excessive noise contributes to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stress and depression. While it affects nearly 20 percent of Europeans, Paris has been crowned the continent's noise capital. More than 5.5 million Parisians are in fact exposed to dangerous noise levels, compared to 2.6 million in London and 1.7 million in Rome. Yet the Fre... Go on reading on our web site.
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