This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/6320799.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Noisy Newcastle tops league table | Noisy Newcastle tops league table |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Newcastle is the noisiest urban area in England, with residents facing severe hearing and health problems, according to a new report. | Newcastle is the noisiest urban area in England, with residents facing severe hearing and health problems, according to a new report. |
| The North East city topped a traffic noise table with 80.4 decibels, said to be the equivalent of a loud alarm clock constantly ringing in a person's ear. | The North East city topped a traffic noise table with 80.4 decibels, said to be the equivalent of a loud alarm clock constantly ringing in a person's ear. |
| Tranquil Torquay emerged as the quietest of the 41 towns and cities surveyed, at just 60 decibels. | Tranquil Torquay emerged as the quietest of the 41 towns and cities surveyed, at just 60 decibels. |
| Other noisy neighbourhoods included Birmingham, London and Darlington. | Other noisy neighbourhoods included Birmingham, London and Darlington. |
| 'Hormone levels' | 'Hormone levels' |
| Some relatively small towns, such as Darlington, Doncaster and Gillingham, proved to be louder than major metropolitan cities including Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham. | Some relatively small towns, such as Darlington, Doncaster and Gillingham, proved to be louder than major metropolitan cities including Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham. |
| href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1170413342/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1170413342/html/1.stm', '1170413407', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=400,height=468,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Noise report rankings in detail href="javascript: void window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1170413342/html/1.stm', '1170413407', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=400,height=468,left=312,top=100');" >Enlarge Image | |
| The report, compiled by the Ear Institute at the University College London, and Widex, a Danish hearing aid manufacturer, looked at traffic noise in the towns and cities across England during rush hour periods. | The report, compiled by the Ear Institute at the University College London, and Widex, a Danish hearing aid manufacturer, looked at traffic noise in the towns and cities across England during rush hour periods. |
| Measurements were taken in October and November in a variety of locations in each town and city, at sites where people came into close proximity with traffic. | Measurements were taken in October and November in a variety of locations in each town and city, at sites where people came into close proximity with traffic. |
| Several readings were taken in each place over a period of 10 to 20 minutes to avoid any inconsistencies caused by, for example, one particularly loud lorry travelling through an otherwise quiet town. | Several readings were taken in each place over a period of 10 to 20 minutes to avoid any inconsistencies caused by, for example, one particularly loud lorry travelling through an otherwise quiet town. |
| The averages of all the readings were taken to find the official reading for that area. | The averages of all the readings were taken to find the official reading for that area. |
| NOISIEST AND QUIETEST PLACES Noisiest1 Newcastle - 80.4 decibels2 Birmingham - 79.1 decibels3 London - 78.5 decibels4 Darlington - 78.3 decibels= Doncaster - 78.3 decibelsQuietest1 Torquay - 60.2 decibels2 Paignton - 65.7 decibels3 Scunthorpe - 66.4 decibels4 Folkestone - 66.8 decibels5 Colchester - 68.1 decibels | NOISIEST AND QUIETEST PLACES Noisiest1 Newcastle - 80.4 decibels2 Birmingham - 79.1 decibels3 London - 78.5 decibels4 Darlington - 78.3 decibels= Doncaster - 78.3 decibelsQuietest1 Torquay - 60.2 decibels2 Paignton - 65.7 decibels3 Scunthorpe - 66.4 decibels4 Folkestone - 66.8 decibels5 Colchester - 68.1 decibels |
| It concluded the noise levels uncovered were a threat to health and well-being and should be seen as an issue comparable to air pollution. | It concluded the noise levels uncovered were a threat to health and well-being and should be seen as an issue comparable to air pollution. |
| Report author Professor Deepak Prasher, of the Ear Institute, said: "Noise pollution in our towns and cities is a growing problem and can have a serious long-term impact on our health and well-being. | Report author Professor Deepak Prasher, of the Ear Institute, said: "Noise pollution in our towns and cities is a growing problem and can have a serious long-term impact on our health and well-being. |
| "Noise not only annoys but also can raise our stress levels and associated hormone levels. | "Noise not only annoys but also can raise our stress levels and associated hormone levels. |
| "It can disturb sleep and increase the risk of heart disease and if the noise is loud enough it can lead to permanent hearing impairment and tinnitus." | "It can disturb sleep and increase the risk of heart disease and if the noise is loud enough it can lead to permanent hearing impairment and tinnitus." |
| Although the difference between noisy Newcastle and tranquil Torquay was 20.4 decibels, the hearing experts said that because decibels are a logarithmic index, the results made Newcastle 100 times noisier than Torquay. | Although the difference between noisy Newcastle and tranquil Torquay was 20.4 decibels, the hearing experts said that because decibels are a logarithmic index, the results made Newcastle 100 times noisier than Torquay. |
| While Newcastle's noise was compared to an alarm clock in the ear, Torquay's was said to be similar to a normal conversation. | While Newcastle's noise was compared to an alarm clock in the ear, Torquay's was said to be similar to a normal conversation. |