Julius Caesar banned chariots from operating on public streets in daylight to alleviate noise pollution

FEW will disagree that noise has become a growing environmental problem, especially in our urban areas.

Everywhere you turn there seems to be some sort of noise, indoor and outdoor.

Noise can be defined as any sound that is undesirable and unacceptable. This means noise is subjective.

For some, sounds at a nightclub, a busy city street, or at a park can be just normal, while for others this can be unbearable, nerve-wracking noise.

There is noise in our society that clearly irritates the living daylights out of people, which can be termed nuisance or even noise pollution.

Of course, noise is a necessary part of our activities. But we can greatly reduce noise if we curb our behaviour and introduce noise saving devices.

For example, Julius Caesar banned chariots from operating on public streets in daylight to alleviate noise pollution.

Our ancient ancestors were not affected by noise, at least not to the degree we experience today. They used natural sounds, like the sound of the wind in the trees to lull them, and animal sounds of the wilderness, despite how loud, were reassuring not irritating noises.

The advance of civilisation and the introduction of technology, which freed us from some of life's hardships, brought with it also intolerable levels of noise.

It is ultimately the price we pay for progress and development.

The people who live near airports, busy intersections, and the like are best suited to tell us about the noise problems so much associated with progress.

The emergence of mini-buses in general and record players and speakers in particular has intensified the level of noise in our society to worrying heights. Traffic noise, especially in Georgetown, has truly become a nuisance.

There seems to be evidence that this pattern will continue since most of the vehicles that ply the roads are poorly equipped.

Additionally, advancing industrialisation by building new businesses in residential areas has increased the multitude of noise.

Civilians and workers are more exposed to the noise hazard than ever.

Noise is not simply annoyance. It involves health issues.

Noise can cause permanent hearing loss. We have the tendency to underestimate the impact noise has on our hearing.

Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to noise can lead to deafness, although this is not conclusive.

Apart from noise affecting our physical health, it can also create psychological and social stress.

Exposure to social noise, for example, near a beer garden, can affect sleeping patterns, which in turn can induce stress, disturbing concentration and communication.

If this is repeated often, it has the potential to affect job performance since there is a correlation between body fatigue and noise.

Immediate attention ought to be given to the noise level in our society since it is believed that the overall loudness of environmental noise will increase dramatically over the next decade with social, economic and political progress.

The public is becoming aware of noise nuisance as exemplified by letters and complaints to the local newspapers and the Police.

To be sure, this may not be a major concern in Guyana but it does raise issues that cannot be avoided.

Noise nuisance is a crime. But it is difficult to apply the law to offenders because of economic and social considerations as well as the problems associated with detection and proof of violation.

Despite the public concern about noise pollution, it is impractical that the Government would develop more noise abatement measures and enforce existing codes.

The Government is occupied with more pressing matters, and environmental noise pollution has to be tackled by our citizens. Some still find it difficult to believe that the ultimate protection of our citizens from noise pollution is to be responsible for our actions.

More research needs to be conducted on noise to improve our understanding of the implication it has on our society.