Two reports published on 6 July highlight the link between noise and effects on human health.
Institute of Acoustics members Bernard Berry and Dr Ian Flindell were commissioned by Defra to undertake a review of research into links between noise and health, with Nicole Porter also part of the project team.
'Estimating Dose-Response Relationships between Noise Exposure and Human Health in the UK' looked at the detrimental impacts from noise pollution, including annoyance, adverse health impacts and slower learning rates in children.
The report is available at Defra's website.
Bernard Berry and Ian Flindell were also involved in another ad-hoc expert group, which published 'Environmental Noise and Health in the UK' on 6 July.
The report, prepared by the expert group at the request of the Department of Health, examines the evidence linking noise and: annoyance, cardio-vascular disease, mental illness and impairment of development of cognitive functions among children.
It points to an increase in evidence showing an association between environmental noise and raised blood pressure and coronary heart disease.
Evidence to show that environmental noise damages mental health remains inconclusive, according to the report.
Berry said: 'The BEL report is important as it establishes a firm basis for a methodology for the economic valuation of health effects as part of high-level policy-appraisal decisions in the UK.
'It also shows how other EU countries are dealing with this issue.
'The HPA report provides a valuable overview of a complex topic.' Those wanting to comment on the HPA report can follow the procedures at the organisation's website.
Bernard Berry will chair Euronoise 2009, the eighth European conference on noise control, to take place on 26-28 October at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
One of the sessions will cover the effects of noise on health.
Under the theme 'Action on Noise in Europe', it is organised by the Institute of Acoustics on behalf of the European Acoustics Association.
