If you’ve ever worked in an office next to a busy road, you know how annoying traffic noise is. Noise pollution is more than just annoying, however.
The European Environment Agency points out that “It can affect people in both physiological and psychological ways, interfering with basic activities such as sleep, rest, study and communication.”
Europe may be on the verge of a real solution to road noise. Scientists in Denmark tested elastic road surfaces. How do the road surfaces work? Will they be the key to cutting down on noise pollution?
The Growing Noise Pollution Problem
According to the European Environment Agency, about 75 percent of Europe’s population lives in cities, and not a few of those citizens complain about high levels of noise from roads.
Furthermore, about one-fifth of the European Union’s population must deal with noise levels that go beyond levels that health experts deem acceptable.
Europe isn’t the only place where noise pollution poses a threat to public health. The National Institute of Health in the United States posted a paper on its website that states, “Tens of millions of Americans suffer from a range of adverse health outcomes due to noise exposure…yet there is no national plan to reduce environmental noise pollution.”
Elastic Road Surfaces Combat Noise
The elastic road surfaces that scientists tested in Europe consist of a mixture of crushed rubber, crushed granite, and a polyurethane glue. How effective is this mixture?
A report by Euro News says that the road surface can take away about 85 percent of the energy from traffic noise. That means that the proelastic concoction is as effective at reducing noise as a three-meter sound barrier.
Elastic Road Surfaces Promise a Viable Solution
It’s obvious that the elastic road surface is an effective way to combat noise, but there are other things to consider as well, such as durability, road safety, and cost. The substance they tested in Denmark is roughly as durable as regular asphalt, and they tried out its friction capabilities to make sure that it is safe to drive on even during rainy weather.
The biggest obstacle in front of the advanced road covering is cost. It is significantly more expensive than a regular road surface. However, given that noise barriers also cost a shiny dime, the price may not be too much for European cities to swallow.
Elastic Roads and Sound Walls Make A Powerful Partnership
There is no telling when and if elastic road surfaces will make their way into mainstream usage, but in the meantime, businesses in industrial and high-traffic areas can take measures to protect their employees from harmful level of noise.
A sound wall company like Sound Fighters’ can install soundproof walls. The Soundproof walls, which may eventually be coupled with quieter roads, will result in better health solution for everyone who regularly spends time in areas where high noise levels is a problem.
Having commercial projects located near and around residential homes not only is a health issue that is brought forward by homeowners but it can delay projects if you have to stop work until resolving the issue.
Noise pollution often disappears in the shadow of other environmental noise issues such as species endangerment and air and water pollution, but that doesn’t mean that governments should ignore noise’s impact. Elastic road surfaces may become an important part of the solution.
Sources:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/noise/intro
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24311120
http://www.euronews.com/2015/02/23/elastic-road-surface-reduces-motorway-noise-pollution/
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