Position statement: Harmful effects of environmental noise exposures

The American Academy of Nursing promotes the reduction of environmental noise, which is defined as unwanted or disturbing sound (EPA, n.d.). Sources of this noise include household equipment, recreational activities, concerts, roads, railways, airports, and industrial sites. Noise is more than an annoyance; it is a public health hazard, having a significant impact on the health of our nation and its economic well-being. It has been well documented that noise exposure contributes to hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disease, stroke, anxiety, stress, depression, learning difficulties, job performance, sleep disorders, and reduced cognitive abilities (Basner et  al., 2015; Lusk, Gillespie, Hagerty, & Ziemba, 2004; M ünzel, Gori, Babisch, & Basner, 2014; Pyko et  al., 2015; Ristovska, Laszlo, & Hansell, 2014; Tzivian et  al., 2015; Yoon, Hong, Roh, Kim, & Won, 2015).
Source: Nursing Outlook - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research