Is noise pollution damaging our global ecosystems?

Testing a theory referred to as ‘The AC/DC Hypothesis’, scientists at Mississippi State University studied the effect of loud noises on lady beetle larvae. Placing their larvae within an environment where they could forage for aphids to eat, the team played music and other sounds at around 95-100 decibels, which is about the same level as a typical lawnmower.

The results varied according to the type of noise used, but it was noted heavy rock and city noises (for example, car horns and jackhammers) caused the most amount of damage. In fact, the team discovered celebrated AC/DC album Back in Black caused the larvae to consume almost half the number of aphids in a 16 - 18 hour test period.

When the group looked at the effect the experiment had on plant life within these controlled environments, it also discovered that where there was no music used, aphid density reduced significantly, and plants grew back stronger and healthier. Where the environments were exposed to rock music, the larvae failed to control the aphids and, as their numbers grew 40 times larger, plant growth became 25% smaller.

The study reflects other recent research which has considered the impact of noise pollution on a much larger scale. A NASA-funded paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this year, revealed large ships using newly-formed Arctic shipping lanes – themselves created by climate change – interfered with how whales in the region were able to communicate, leading to more fatal collisions for the animals.

With all this in mind, the question has to be asked, if noise pollution is doing this to nature and the environment around us, what is it doing to humans? There’s growing evidence to show noise pollution has an ability to impact our cardiovascular system, and that this can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Then there’s the work that highlights how children and adults are suffering in places of learning and work where nearby roads, flight paths and railways are within earshot.

But what can we do to protect ourselves from this modern world, its noise and the damage it’s doing to us both physically and mentally? Well, the good news is, acoustic comfort is something that is achievable where it is designed for in the first place. By taking into account the purpose of the building, as well as the internal and external factors that might have a negative impact on its inhabitants, we can start to look more carefully at how the building itself will respond to them and what can be changed to improve the acoustic environment.

For example, what activities are to be performed in the space? What is the range of noise that needs to be managed? How is the building constructed and what materials and products can be introduced? Only by asking questions like this, can we create environments that will allow humans to live, work and thrive as they are supposed to... even in those where there’s a greater chance they’ll be listening to AC/DC.