Ecophon Acoustic Bulletin

Last year CIOP (Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute) investigated noise problem in public primary schools in Warsaw.
The main focus of this survey, initiated by Ministry of National Education, was the noise impact on school staff’s health and well-being. Important part of this research was a survey among teachers checking their awareness of noise threat. Close to 200 teachers returned filled questionnaires. Have a look at interesting results:

Do you experience discomfort during work caused by …… . (% of answers “yes”):
- noise 88,2%
- lack of space 32,1%
- bad ventilation 27,3%
- bad lighting 13,9%
- dustiness 3,2%

What are the most disturbing noise sources in your school?
- Noise in corridors during breaks 83,5%
- Physical exercises in corridors during lessons 34,5%
- Corridor ring 31,4 %
- Pupils’ chatter during lessons 30,0 %
- Talks in corridor during lessons 9,6 %
- Sounds from neighboring classrooms 9,2 %
- Noise from HVAC systems 9,1 %
- Noise from school playground/yard 6,5 %
- Traffic noise 4,8 %

How difficult problem noise is in your school? (annoyance in scale 1 to 10)
7,1 % of teachers chose 1-3 (slight)
50,6 % chose 4-7 (serious)
42,4 % chose 8-10 (critical)

Have you experienced lately: (% of answers “yes”)
- growing fatigue during working day 98,3 %
- irritation 97,1 %
- stress and emotional tension 95,2 %
- waking up tired and sleepy 94,3 %
- hoarseness 91,3 %
- concentration problems 90,6 %
- frequent headache 85,4 %
- apathy 83,6 %
- tinnitus (buzzing in the ears) 61,9 %
- chronic laryngitis 61,1 %
All these very common physical and mental problems are caused, or at least supported by noise! It is obvious that exposure to noise has similar consequences for pupils. Regarding this, WHO’s “Children’ Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe” (CEHAPE) points to need of noise control in educational and housing areas (click here to go to related article). For 2010 CIOP plan to prepare guidelines for noise control in schools as an input to national CEHAP. This document will be dedicated to architects, school headmasters and local authorities responsible for education sector in Poland.

Research report will be presented at 15th International Conference on Noise Control in Książ Castle near Wrocław, Poland, in June. To visit Noise Control webpage click here

Posted by Mikołaj Jarosz at 1:16 PM
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„Commercials cannot be louder than foregoing programs and movies and its sound cannot be frightening” – it is main statement of new television and radio advertisement regulation in Poland.
This regulation was introduced by last revision committed by KRRiTV (national TV & radio market regulator) and it was done under viewers’ pressure. Their claims were officially supported by Polish ombudsman: “It seems, that sudden, irritating sound level jump caused by commercial breaks, establish viewers’ privacy violation. Mental balance (peace), disordered by noisy ads, belongs doubtless to the roll of personal rights protected by Civil Code”.
Advertisers try to catch our attention by all means and year by year, TV commercials became for us more and more irritating. Annual inquires show that in 1995 35% of polish viewers were changing channel or leaving seats during commercials. In 2005 such reaction was declared by 75% frustrated TV fans.

Research done last year by Jerzy Wiciak and Paweł Małecki from AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow proves that average TV commercial breaks sound level is much higher than all other emitted programs.
Researchers recorded many hours of TV programs, both public and commercial channels, finding out that advertisement fills 30% of total broadcasting time. Sound levels differences varied depending on program type. Commercials were 6,6 to 13,8 dB louder than foregoing movies but 10,7 to 20,0 dB louder than programs for children.

New regulation is not yet validated but KRRiTV already published tender for buying monitoring station that can be used to control and evidence relative loudness of TV and radio advertisements. Severe fines are provided too.

Have a look hereto read about same problem in US.

Posted by Mikołaj Jarosz at 12:43 PM
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Healthy children have the best chances for healthy, productive lives. As citizens of today’s world – not just as future contributors to society – children have the right to health protection and promotion (United Nations, 1989).

Just 5 weeks have left to the opening of Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Parma, Italy. At this event, ministers of health and environment and experts from countries that belong to WHO’s European Region will assess the progress made since last conference in Budapest.
In 2004 Fourth Conference in Budapest, according to the statement on the top of this article, accepted “Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe” (CEHAPE). This plan was prepared to develop policies and actions to achieve safe environment in which children could reach highest possible level of health.

There are four so called “Regional Priority Goals” in CEHAPE. The Fourth Regional Priority Goal is “reduced risk from chemical and physical agents”. One of these physical agents is noise. To “prevent and reduce exposure to hazardous and disruptive noise and noise-related injuries” measures as followed are recommended:
- Monitor noise and exposure to noise in public buildings where children spend time
- Incorporate measures to reduce exposure to noise in urban planning and infrastructure planning, considering the needs of school zones
- Educate parents, students and school personnel about hazards of individually controllable and other sources of noise
- Implement preventive infrastructure measures, such as proper insulation of buildings where children study and sleep, to protect them from noise

To read more about 5th Conference click here

To read more about CEHAPE click
here (particularly page 19)

To visit WHO’s European Office webpage click here

Posted by Mikołaj Jarosz at 11:39 AM
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