We’ve all heard about air pollution, but there’s another type of pollution that doesn’t get quite as much attention in the press. It’s called noise pollution.

Noise pollution occurs when humans, machines or even animals make so much noise that it interferes with our normal activities and quality of life. Noise pollution is also a problem because it can harm our health by contributing to high blood pressure, hearing loss and sleep difficulties.

What’s the solution?

You can wear earplugs to muffle the sound. Or you can avoid areas where there’s lots of noise. However, there’s a good chance that you won’t be able to avoid noisy areas all the time.

For example, if you spend time in a big city, where traffic jams are a regular occurrence, you’re likely to hear a cacophony (see definition below) of car horns. Some cities even have laws now to help control excessive noise levels.

Do you have any idea which cities are considered the noisiest in the world?

According to travel experts, the cities where you’re most likely to get an earful of loud sounds include Mumbai, Madrid, New York City, Buenos Aires and Cairo.

Speak your mind:  Is there anything near your hometown that produces a particular cacophony?

CACOPHONY: Harsh, jarring, discordant noise.