Noise is everywhere and we have accepted it: today it is urgent to raise awareness

We have learned to ignore it. It is in all the spaces we frequent and has stopped being annoying to become simply everyday life. At home, among neighbors and household appliances; at work, amidst calls, conversations, and constant reverberation; and on the street with that deafening traffic. Now it is no longer just noise: it is a global health problem.

Today is International Noise Awareness Day, a date that invites us to focus on something that usually goes unnoticed: the extent to which we have integrated noise into our way of living and working without stopping to think about its consequences. Beyond discomfort, we are talking about concentration, rest, stress, and health.

And the data confirms it. According to the European Environment Agency and the World Health Organization, in Europe there are 95 million people exposed to harmful levels of road traffic noise. Furthermore, 20% of the urban population is subjected to levels considered detrimental to health, and up to 25% of the Natura 2000 Network is affected by environmental noise with a negative impact on the ecosystem.

This day reminds us of something simple yet key: noise should not be assumed as inevitable. Questioning how much we have normalized it is the first step to rethink our spaces and move towards healthier and more balanced environments.

Tags: acoustic comfort · isinac · environment · health · no noise