Indicator Fact Sheet

Traffic noise: exposure and annoyance

Indicator Fact Sheet

Prod-ID: IND-233-en

Also known as:

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Topics: Environment and health

This page was archived on 26 Aug 2017 with reason: A new version has been published

Assessment made on 01 Jan 2001

Generic metadata

Classification

Topics:

Environment and health

DPSIR: Impact

Identification

Indicator codes

Contents

Policy issue: Reduce number of people exposed to and annoyed by traffic noise levels which endanger health and quality of life

Figures

Estimated percentage of population exposed to different road trafic noise levels

Key assessment

About 120 million people in the EU (more than 30 % of the total population) are exposed to road traffic noise levels above 55 L_dn dB. More than 50 million people are exposed to noise levels above 65 L_dn dB.

It is estimated that 10 % of the EU population are exposed to rail noise above 55 L_Aeq dB. The data on noise nuisance by aircraft are the most uncertain, but studies indicate that 10 % of the total EU population may be highly annoyed by air transport noise.