Noise pollution: An overview of management strategies

Noise pollution is one of the most widespread environmental problems. However noise is a very complex issue not easy to tackle at all. Main difficulties to deal with are the fact that perception of noise is often subjectively and culturally dependent and that its health consequences are not easy to determine. This paper first analyses the different sources of noise and their health effects. Secondly it deals with the economic costs of noise exposure in the transport sector. Thirdly the methodological framework of noise management is presented. Finally practical lessons for noise management learned from some real-world examples are discussed.