Noise pollution is an issue that grows more important each year. The rising population in America guarantees that sound problems will continue to increase.
This noise pollution epidemic includes an alarming financial aspect as well. Here are ways that controlling noise pollution can save money for the United States.
Hearing Loss
Due to noise pollution from traffic, airplanes, public events, and industry, citizens are in constant peril. Suffering hearing loss is a possibility at volumes higher than 55 A-weighted decibels.
Unfortunately, most major metropolitan areas exceed this sound level, often incurring noise levels higher than 60 decibels. The result is that more than 100 million Americans are susceptible to hearing loss from noise pollution.
The costs of this health problem are dramatic. Hearing loss is one of the most expensive health issues an individual can experience. They may need hearing aids, extensive tests, and frequent doctor visits to address the matter.
Anyone who suffers significant hearing loss needs training to learn how to adapt conversationally without sound. Learning sign language will also require costly tutors or educational classes.
Exactly how much does hearing loss cost? Victims must spend an average of $297,000. A lot of the expense stems from lost earning potential due to the physical disadvantage.
The numbers increase dramatically for pre-lingual onset victims. Their disability costs a million dollars. With such an expensive per-user expense, the danger of 100 million potential victims could spell financial disaster for the country.
Hypertension
A potential outcome of noise pollution is high blood pressure. The expenses of hypertension are dramatic. Research indicates that the nation spends $46 billion treating it each year. This includes medications, treatments, and staffing needs for proper healthcare.
By reducing the level of noise pollution across the country, the U.S. can save billions through preventative measures that ward off high blood pressure. Since this illness is more prevalent in the south, state governments in that region should take steps to lessen aggravating sounds. Adding noise barriers on major roads would be a strong step in this regard.
Coronary Heart Disease
Another health issue noise pollution causes is heart disease. Research by the WHO Noise Environmental Burden on Disease working group revealed that “noise pollution is causing more deaths from heart disease than was previously thought.” The data indicates that the background sounds you hear every day are increasing the risk of degenerative heart diseases.
Ignoring the terrifying health concerns, here are the financial ramifications. If America doesn’t address the growing problem of heart disease, health care for the illness is expected to cost citizens $800 billion by 2030.
High blood pressure happens to be one of the primary issues of heart disease. Its projected cost by 2030 is $389 billion. To put these numbers in perspective, consider that federal, state, and local health care for government entities cost $1.2 trillion in 2012.
If something isn’t done to reduce noise pollution, the country will spend almost as much on heart disease alone in 2030. Noise pollution is potentially devastating to the U.S. economy.
The numbers above demonstrate how much potential danger the country faces if the problem is not addressed.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11155832
http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_bloodpressure.htm
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70N4JD20110124?irpc=932
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