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Argumentative Essay

Fatima Moflehi

10/26/2023

       Noise Pollution

    Noise pollution is defined as unwanted or disturbing sound in the environment that affects the health and well-being of humans and other living organisms. Many don’t realize the detrimental impacts noise pollution has on wildlife, especially populations of some species. With the increase of Noise pollution animals, such as frogs and birds, that depend on noise (mating calls) to breed have been found to decrease in population. Scientists agree that steps to combating noise pollution must be taken in order to protect wildlife, but the way in which to approach it may have unintended effects that can do more damage to the ecosystem. 

Noise pollution, according to the National Science Foundation, has been found to delay nesting for birds whose songs are at a lower frequency and thus more difficult to hear through low-frequency human noise (2020). This impact on bird songs interfered with the birds breeding habits thus affecting population growth. Another study, according to NationalParkService.gov, has found that animals are being forced to adapt to the increasing noise levels. One example given is how “males of at least one frog species are adapting to traffic noise by calling at a higher pitch” and how it could be problematic for the females, because “they prefer lower-pitched calls, which indicate larger and more experienced males. Human-caused noise has produced similar results in multiple bird species” (Barber et al. 2009). 

Implementing policies to help combat noise pollution can be difficult. Suggestions for urban planning that would “locate residential areas away from noisy industrial zones or transportation routes” according to the CPD can be seen as an impactful way to reduce traffic noise but according to the Environmental Health Perspectives “ Distancing houses from vehicles reduces exposures to both noise and vehicular emissions, but reducing air pollution by reducing stop-and-go traffic may actually increase noise, because faster traffic is often noisier.”(David 2014) This shows how major anti-noise pollution efforts can actually cause more damage.

In Conclusion, Although it is important to acknowledge the impacts noise pollution has on our ecosystems, Efforts to combat it must be well planned and thought about. With more research into noise pollution more well thought out solutions can be made.

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