Airport Noise

Most people today would say that air pollution is the biggest environmental concern caused by airports and aircraft. However, I would argue noise pollution is causing more harm. 


Currently, I live very close to a major city airport. I am one who likes (or at least I don't mind) aircraft noise. But aircraft noise can cause health and behavioral problems that can often go unnoticed. Behavioral ecologist, Peter Tyack, was a guest on the Freakonomics podcast and shared that children who lived close to a new airport that was built began to have cognitive language learning problems (Dubner, 2020). Tyack references The Munich Airport Noise Study - Effects of Chronic Aircraft Noise on Children's Perception and Cognition (Dubner, 2020 and Hygge, Evans, & Bullinger, 2000). The study divided kids into noise groups, a group of kids who lived where the previous Munich airport was and a group where the new Munich airport is located now (Hygge, Evans, & Bullinger, 2000). The studies were conducted before and after the airport relocated (Hygge, Evans, & Bullinger, 2000). Long-term memory and linguistic learning were improved in the kids who lived where the airport used to be and diminished for the kids who lived near the new airport (Hygge, Evans, & Bullinger, 2000). 

Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has found a brilliant solution to their aircraft noise problems. Artist Paul De Kort and H+N+S Landscape Architects designed a park that reduces noise levels simply because of how the rigged landscape is structured (Miley, 2017). Before the park was designed, the airport staff had noticed that the airport noise was reduced after the farm fields nearby were plowed (Miley, 2017). The resultant park, Buitenschot, has helped to reduce airport noise levels by half (Miley, 2017). This is an easy, cost-efficient way to solve aircraft noise pollution that more airports should incorporate. 



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References

Dubner, S. J. (Host). (2020, November 11). Please get your noise out of my ears [Audio podcast episode]. In Freakonomics radio. Freakonomics. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/noise/

Hygge, S., Evans, G. W., & Bullinger, M. (2000, August). The Munich airport noise study - effects of chronic aircraft noise on children's perception and cognition. InterNoise 2000. Retrieved from http://www.conforg.fr/internoise2000/cdrom/data/articles/000676.pdf

Miley, J. (2017, July 5). This cleverly designed park reduces noise pollution around Amsterdam's busy airport. Interesting Engineering. Retrieved from https://interestingengineering.com/designed-park-reduces-noise-pollution-amsterdams-airport

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