Noise causes health problems

Sleep disturbance due to noise affects 200 000 people in Norway. Research shows that noise can cause stress, muscular tension and musculoskeletal disorders, and may be a contributory factor behind high blood pressure and the development of heart disease.

Noise is everywhere in our society

For many years, growth in the transport sector has been generating a great deal of noise. Road traffic is the dominant source of noise in Norway. Noise from aircraft and railways has been reduced since 1999, but the improvement has been outweighed by rising noise levels from road traffic.

Action plan for noise reduction

Norway has specific targets for the reduction of noise annoyance by 2020, and a national action plan describes what must be done to achieve these targets.

In many areas with particularly high outdoor noise levels, residential buildings already have improved facade insulation and noise screens. But to achieve Norway’s targets, noise levels must also be reduced at source. Low-noise technology for road surfaces, engines and tyres is important. Norway has government guidelines for incorporating noise into land use planning, which must be used more actively.