Transport noise disturbs millions of people in Europe. In 2000, more than 44% of the population of the European Union (EU) – 210 million people – were regularly exposed to road traffic noise averaging out at more than 55dB, the level the World Health Organization (WHO) considers to be unacceptably high (Den Boer and Schroten, 2007). About 35 million were affected by rail noise. The figures for aircraft noise are less certain as the way in which they are collected is disputed but it runs into millions. For example, the aviation industry admits well over 3.5 million people in Europe are affected by night flights alone (European Commission, 2005). Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 30 million people are exposed to disturbing levels of aircraft noise (Ollerhead and Sharp, 2001).
Although the greatest numbers of people are exposed to traffic noise, there is evidence to show that people become disturbed more quickly by aircraft noise.
