Evaluation of the Environmental Noise Effects on the Population of the Historical Center of Valencia

Abstract

Background: The acoustic contamination in residential areas is a generalized problem to solve it, it is necessary to have an available precise information about its magnitude and effects upon the population. Methods: We show the first results of a study on the acoustic contamination int he historical center of Valencia and about its effects upon that district residents. A noise map has been made measuning the daily sound leve1 in 135 points regularly distributed. At the same time, 418 telephone polls among the residents in that district has been carried out. Results: The noise levels, existing in the studied zone, are very high, it has been obtained an average equivalent sound leve1 (Leq) of 71.6 decibels A (dBA). About a 60% of the surveyed persons declare to be ?troubled?, because of the noise and one out of four surveyed persons find it difficult to get to sleep for the same reason. Road traffic is the main source of trouble. There has been observed a relation between certain personal characteristics in the surveyed persons and the answers obtained, although it does not reach an statistical significance. Conclusions: In the historical center of Valencia, there exists an important problem of environmental noise and the daily levels exceed clearly the recommended limits. It seems that traffic is the main source of noise probably combined with a defficient urban structure which does not allow a fluid vehicular traffic. The residents in this zone are aware of the problem and a great proportion of them declare to be damaged in a greater or smaller magnitude. Although the sensitivity to noise could be in relation with certain personal factors in the surveyed persons.