**1. Noise pollution becomes a main problem**

With the improvement of living standards, urbanization, and industrialization, noise pollution has become an environmental factor that is most frequently encountered by anyone, anytime, and anywhere in everyday life. Unlike other environmental problems, noise pollution tends to increase continuously, and the sufferings of the residents exposed to noise also increase gradually. In particular, in a rapidly developing society, poor buildings' quality, poor urban planning, and traffic noises generate more exposed to noise pollution.

Korea is successfully industrialized country. With the industrialization, noise complaints began to emerge. Noise and vibration make up 90% of the environmental disputes. Most metropolitan residents in Korea are suffering from noise pollution. And 88% of metropolitan residents expected that noise level would get worse.

The data of the nationwide environmental noise through automatic measurement network in 2018, which included major cities in Korea, were as follows (**Figure 1**). The distribution of noise level was 84.5% in the case of over 55 dBA at night (23–7 hours) and 99.9% in the daytime (8–22 hours), and some cases exceeded 75 dBA (0.95% at night, 4.54% during the day). The national average noise level was 64.6 dBA (54.6–69.9 dBA) during the night and 69.6 dBA (55.1–74.3 dBA) during the day, 5 dBA higher than during the night. Most of results exceeded the domestic standard for residential areas, 50 dBA at night and 55 dBA during the day. Because such noise level is a result of outdoor measurement, the indoor noise level might be

**Figure 1.**

*Distribution and mean noise levels of nationwide automatic measurement system in 2018, in Korea: Data from http://www.noiseinfo.or.kr.*

10–15 dBA lower than outdoor level usually [1]. The nationwide environmental noise level and noise-related problems in Korea are not getting better than before.

According to the International Program on Chemical Safety [2], an adverse effect of noise is defined as a change in the morphology and physiology of organism that results in an impairment of functional capacity, or an impairment of capacity to compensate for additional stress, or increases the susceptibility of organism to harmful effects of other environmental influences. This definition includes any temporary or long-term decrement of physical, psychological, or social function of humans or human organs.

Environmental noise exposure is responsible for range of health effects, including increased risk of ischemic heart disease as well as sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment among children, annoyance, stress-related mental health risks, and tinnitus. Taken together, these risks in high-income European countries account for a loss of 1–1.6 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) – a standardized measure of healthy years of life lost to illness, disability, or early death.

The health effects of noise depend on its complexity such as time variation, frequency content, loudness, ambient noise level, type of noise, and individual difference. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the direct and indirect effects of these noises on health is limiting the provision of reasonable regulatory standards for living noise.

### **2. Neighborhood noise is increasing**

A rapid increase in population in the city and urbanization in 1960s and 1970s prompted the need for residential construction. To cope with the demand, highrise flats were built. Regulation on building at that time did not include the test on sound insulation in residential building, so standards were often not adequate

**23**

*Neighborhood Noise*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92877*

affected the neighborhood noise issues.

campaign and legislation.

at low levels.

to protect people from everyday sounds from their neighbors made [3]. Although there were some differences by country, neighborhood noise issues were mostly published after the 1980s. They revealed that economic growth and urbanization

According to the special report of New York City in 2005, there were 410,000 noise complaints to 311. New Yorkers perceived much more from neighborhood noise and also suffered more behavioral and emotional consequences, such as difficulty sleeping and relaxing and feeling annoyed, angry, or upset compared to the nationwide population. New Yorkers were especially bothered by neighbor noises such as inadequate floor covering and slamming of doors. Of those, young children running around excessively were noise complaints that were best handled by clauses in apartment leases. These findings demonstrated that New Yorkers could not find

The European quality-of-life surveys were carried out examining both the objective circumstances of lives of European citizens and how they felt about those circumstances and their lives in general. The last (fourth) survey in 2016–2017 involved nearly 37,000 citizens, and respondents were asked whether they had major, moderate, or no problems with noise from the immediate neighborhood of their home. Almost one third (32%) of them reported problems with noise (ranging from 14 to 51% in individual countries), mainly in cities or city suburbs (49%) [5]. The neighborhood noise problem accounted for a large proportion of complaints related to noise and its proportion increased despite the government efforts such as

Neighborhood noise may stem from various potential sources of noise (such as ventilation systems; church bells; animals; neighbors; commercial, recreational and occupational activities; or shooting/military). As the sources might be located in close proximity to where people live, they could cause considerable annoyance even

The main background factors of noise issues include overcrowding, developing urbanization, sprawling development, building of apartments and houses with inadequate sound insulation, increased use of electric equipment at home, increased number of recreation facilities, and lack of communication among neighbors. In addition, the calmness of a residential area depends on the noises outside the house. These main noise issues simply divided neighborhood noise into three categories: (1) noise produced by using loudspeakers, (2) noise produced during the nighttime operation of commercial facilities, and (3) daily life noise [6]. According to the report of Right to Peace and Quiet Campaign (RPQC) in 1994, at least five people a year died from noise-related conflicts between neighbors in the UK [3]. Also, 18 people had serious social problems in 2010–2020 such as arson and

People could feel more annoyed if they believe the noise might harm our health or put us in danger. They could be particularly disturbed when their neighborhoods suddenly become noisy. When noises become really disturbing, it could dominate every aspects of our lives. The desire to get rid of the offending noises by almost any means possible could be overwhelming. Murder or suicide is just the end point of that process. Although only a small number of people resort to suicide or murder,

murder followed by conflicts related to neighborhood noise in Korea.

**3. Neighborhood noise problem and the related efforts in Korea**

According to mediation center report, of the 137,813 telephone consultations (2012–2018), there were severe conflicts among neighbors, and 39,950 cases

many lives could get altered forever by noise problems [3].

the requisite peace and quiet in their homes that they deserve [4].

#### *Neighborhood Noise DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92877*

*Noise and Environment*

humans or human organs.

**Figure 1.**

*http://www.noiseinfo.or.kr.*

for living noise.

**2. Neighborhood noise is increasing**

10–15 dBA lower than outdoor level usually [1]. The nationwide environmental noise

*Distribution and mean noise levels of nationwide automatic measurement system in 2018, in Korea: Data from* 

Environmental noise exposure is responsible for range of health effects, including increased risk of ischemic heart disease as well as sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment among children, annoyance, stress-related mental health risks, and tinnitus. Taken together, these risks in high-income European countries account for a loss of 1–1.6 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) – a standardized measure

The health effects of noise depend on its complexity such as time variation, frequency content, loudness, ambient noise level, type of noise, and individual difference. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the direct and indirect effects of these noises on health is limiting the provision of reasonable regulatory standards

A rapid increase in population in the city and urbanization in 1960s and 1970s prompted the need for residential construction. To cope with the demand, highrise flats were built. Regulation on building at that time did not include the test on sound insulation in residential building, so standards were often not adequate

level and noise-related problems in Korea are not getting better than before. According to the International Program on Chemical Safety [2], an adverse effect of noise is defined as a change in the morphology and physiology of organism that results in an impairment of functional capacity, or an impairment of capacity to compensate for additional stress, or increases the susceptibility of organism to harmful effects of other environmental influences. This definition includes any temporary or long-term decrement of physical, psychological, or social function of

of healthy years of life lost to illness, disability, or early death.

**22**

to protect people from everyday sounds from their neighbors made [3]. Although there were some differences by country, neighborhood noise issues were mostly published after the 1980s. They revealed that economic growth and urbanization affected the neighborhood noise issues.

According to the special report of New York City in 2005, there were 410,000 noise complaints to 311. New Yorkers perceived much more from neighborhood noise and also suffered more behavioral and emotional consequences, such as difficulty sleeping and relaxing and feeling annoyed, angry, or upset compared to the nationwide population. New Yorkers were especially bothered by neighbor noises such as inadequate floor covering and slamming of doors. Of those, young children running around excessively were noise complaints that were best handled by clauses in apartment leases. These findings demonstrated that New Yorkers could not find the requisite peace and quiet in their homes that they deserve [4].

The European quality-of-life surveys were carried out examining both the objective circumstances of lives of European citizens and how they felt about those circumstances and their lives in general. The last (fourth) survey in 2016–2017 involved nearly 37,000 citizens, and respondents were asked whether they had major, moderate, or no problems with noise from the immediate neighborhood of their home. Almost one third (32%) of them reported problems with noise (ranging from 14 to 51% in individual countries), mainly in cities or city suburbs (49%) [5]. The neighborhood noise problem accounted for a large proportion of complaints related to noise and its proportion increased despite the government efforts such as campaign and legislation.

Neighborhood noise may stem from various potential sources of noise (such as ventilation systems; church bells; animals; neighbors; commercial, recreational and occupational activities; or shooting/military). As the sources might be located in close proximity to where people live, they could cause considerable annoyance even at low levels.

The main background factors of noise issues include overcrowding, developing urbanization, sprawling development, building of apartments and houses with inadequate sound insulation, increased use of electric equipment at home, increased number of recreation facilities, and lack of communication among neighbors. In addition, the calmness of a residential area depends on the noises outside the house. These main noise issues simply divided neighborhood noise into three categories: (1) noise produced by using loudspeakers, (2) noise produced during the nighttime operation of commercial facilities, and (3) daily life noise [6].

According to the report of Right to Peace and Quiet Campaign (RPQC) in 1994, at least five people a year died from noise-related conflicts between neighbors in the UK [3]. Also, 18 people had serious social problems in 2010–2020 such as arson and murder followed by conflicts related to neighborhood noise in Korea.

People could feel more annoyed if they believe the noise might harm our health or put us in danger. They could be particularly disturbed when their neighborhoods suddenly become noisy. When noises become really disturbing, it could dominate every aspects of our lives. The desire to get rid of the offending noises by almost any means possible could be overwhelming. Murder or suicide is just the end point of that process. Although only a small number of people resort to suicide or murder, many lives could get altered forever by noise problems [3].
