India, United States Share Common Problem: Noise and Attacks

It was Mardi Gras weekend, and after the crowds had passed, and the town quieted in Natchitoches, one sound was left to threaten peace. It was the thumping of a boom truck that was heard for blocks.

The sound could disturb the dead in the historical American Cemetery nearby, and nothing could stop it. A truck continued to drive around the streets, running the music with windows down, with passengers inside hooting and yelling at midnight. No one could sleep through the din. That is a nighttime problem, but on an ordinary street in broad daylight the ordinary person standing waiting for a light can hear the onslaught of loud music without escape. The problem of noise is everywhere, and what is noise indeed? It is not, as people think, an incidental issue. In fact it can create hazards for peace and quiet and for peace period. Loud music and noise involuntarily heard can make folks uncomfortable and angry. It can also do more than that. The World Health Organization underlines that loud noise can create high blood pressure problems and mental health issues. The noise is dealt with differently in places across the country where complaints are heard before city councils, informally in bars and discussion groups or wherever people meet to discuss their aggravations. Usually there are city ordinances referencing noise, but remains a problem that won’t go away. In Mumbai this week it has been reported that people have been very concerned about the constant din that causes folks to shout, complain and just plain get angry and frustrated. Mumbai is considered India’s maximum city for noise at a constant 80-85 decibels of outside noise that is considered twice the safe levels determined by WHO. The following are some of the health problems produced by constant loud noise: • High blood pressure: Studies have found that people who live near a noisy airport, work in a noisy environment, or hear over 55 decibels of city traffic noise at night are at higher risk of high blood pressure. • Trouble sleeping: Noise can make it tough to sleep. • Emotional effects: The stress caused by noise can make mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, worse. It can make anyone more irritable. • Poor school or work performance: Children in school and workers on the job do not perform as well in a noisy environment. • Headaches: Noise can trigger headaches in some people. Some towns have ordinances; others handle the problem on an individual complaint level. But whatever the time or place, people complain about increasing noise. Mumbai is a great city in India and was the site of terrorist attacks and as such gave India its 9/11, folks said. Like the United States it suffered casualties and a world watching terrorists frighten and destroy as occurred in New York City with the World Trade Towers on 9/11. It shares many things with America with its democracy, but also its noise and problems with outside terrorism. Now will someone get their car off the street soon as the alarm keeps going off, and it’s driving us crazy around here.