Category Archives: Noise & Health

New report: millions impacted by noise

A new report from the European Environment Agency has found over 20% of Europeans — more than one in five — are exposed to harmful transport noise levels. When measured against stricter World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, this figure rises to over 30%, or nearly one in three citizens. Road traffic is the most widespread […]

People Can Be Disturbed By 51 Decibels

Public inquiry accepts that people can be disturbed by 51 decibels as it rejects Gatwick Airport’s expansion plans. Last week the Public Inquiry inspectors rejected Gatwick Airport’s application for a second runway. One of the key reasons they gave was noise. Perhaps of most relevance to citizens at other European airports and beyond was the […]

Third attempt to build Heathrow Third Runway

Heathrow Airport will try for the third time to get permission to build a Third Runway. It is expected to submit an application in the summer after the Government said this week that it would support a new runway in principle. Plans for a third runway were first put forward in 2003. After one of […]

Higher Aircraft Noise Exposure Is Linked to Worse Heart Structure and Function

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published an article titled Higher Aircraft Noise Exposure Is Linked to Worse Heart Structure and Function by Cardiovascular MRI. Aircraft noise is a growing concern for communities living near airports. This study aimed to explore the impact of aircraft noise on heart structure and function. Conclusion is […]

Millions exposed to aircraft noise across Europe

Millions of people across Europe are exposed to unhealthy levels of aircraft noise. The latest report from the European Environment Agency found 2.3 million people were exposed in 2022 (14.3 million if you use the lower levels of exposure recommended by the World Health Organisation in its 2018 Guidelines). This figure is lower than pre-Covid […]

Schiphol must surrender undeserved flights

Now that the Dutch Supreme Court has prohibited the State from eliminating the lawlessness around Schiphol via a fast route (Experimental Regulation), the question is whether this will succeed via the route of the EU Balanced Approach Regulation (BAR). The prospects are not favourable. Under pressure from opponents, the objective has been watered down. The […]

Brussels environment agency sues airlines on account of noise pollution

For the first time, the Brussels environment agency is taking legal action against airlines that overfly Brussels and do not comply with noise standards. In May 63 official reports were drawn up. Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe is one of the municipalities where noise pollution is most acute. Read more Source: flandersnews.be

The Health Impact Of Aircraft Noise And Pollutant Emissions In The Vicinity Of Brussels Airport

In Brussels, there has been a strong movement in favour of traffic restrictions at the airport, including a minister’s call for a ban on night flights from 23:00 to 07:00. The background to this movement is likely to be a recently published study on the health effects of various factors at Brussels Airport. The content […]

Aviation is a Health Issue

Flying poses a long-term risk for the climate and a livable future. It also is an immediate health risk for people living near airports and under flight paths, as well as for cabin-crew and passengers. Stay Grounded and UECNA wrote a paper together that summarises the current science on health effects associated with noise and […]

PFAS scandal at Schiphol is expanding: poison was not only in fire-fighting foam

A publication of SchipholWatch The PFAS pollution at and around Schiphol is much more serious than previously thought. The poison appears not only to have been used in fire extinguishing foam, but also in a range of other products that were used at the airport. More and more soil appears to be contaminated. This is […]

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