“Disturbing new facts about noise”

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Disturbing new facts about noise

By Anne Zammit  

 Noise pollution is hardly an issue that can be described as unheard of in Malta. The summer months bring loud complaints from residents suffering a barrage of festa petards, which can go on week after week depending on the locality.

Add to that the habit some drivers adopt of hooting at every street corner instead of slowing down to honour right of way for approaching vehicles, as street signage indicates. The onslaught of loud music at many public events, the sound of hunters’ guns blasting away early mornings and late-night car-racing on roads such as the Mosta – Mgarr stretch go unchallenged.

 It is a problem, which features high on our list of environmental pressures. Unlike other forms of pollution, samples cannot be taken for investigation in a laboratory.  Making noise, which disturbs or disrupts the lives of others, does not carry the same weight as other forms of pollution. Polluting the air, soil, water is an environmental crime yet noise pollution[ii] with all its ill effects is legally still a mere contravention.

  “This is the first thing we have to address” according to Dr Simone Borg who spoke on local laws and noise management at a forum held last month by the Noise Abatement Society of Malta (NASoM).

 Head of the University’s department of environmental law, Dr Borg said that the present law is very vague although narrowing it to decibel measurements could present difficulties. Even as things lie, there is often enough evidence to back a case for civil damages. Magistrates may not feel the need to refer to decibel tables if it is plain that people are unable to sleep at night because of noise

Lack of coherence between noise regulators – Transport Malta, Building Regulations Office, Occupational Health and Safety Authority, Trading License Unit, Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Police – and the many ministries involved could be solved by creating a framework that establish a network to avoid loopholes and conflicts in law between the many entities involved.

 The framework intended to control & prevent neighbourhood noise was published in December 2012 .  It is a pity after that two years of extensive discussion with the opposition party in government and stakeholders involved in the various sectors, this piece of legislation was not enforced.

John Fenech, representing the society underlines the importance of understanding that noise is a hazard to health and the wellbeing.

Sleep disturbance is a big problem since sleep is very important for health.   An official from public health, Dr J P Cauchi, spoke on the increasing magnitude and severity of noise pollution. Noise below 70 decibels dB (A) is not harmful to the auditory system. Nevertheless, during the night noise levels of 45 dB (A) measured one meter from the house façade – including that of light traffic or noise from other activity– can result in sleep without rest as the heart rate and blood pressure are higher than normal. It is only during restful sleep that healing can take place.

 Minister Leo Brincat referred to this and other issues which had been caught up in the transitory time ahead of merging Malta Resources Authority with the environment authority, which will soon no longer fall under MEPA.

 “If we legislate, we intend to address the gaps”, he added, noting that people were fed up of having laws on paper, which are not so easily implemented.

Chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Council, Perit Charles Buhagiar observed that a guidance document on measures to be taken at the building stage to reduce the transmission of sound are “not good enough” and legislation is needed. The council is working with the building regulations office to control noise in buildings and on building sites.

Another concern was the problem of noisy neighbours in the vicinity, which could reduce property values. The Noise Abatement Society’s website ( www.nasomalta.org) provides a forum for complaints, which will be passed on to the relevant authorities

 

 

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