Covid's Noise Fallout

This project aims to reveal the significance of noise pollution and its associated health risks through data visualization, while highlighting issues of data inequality across social classes. It focuses on covering all populations, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children, using publicly available data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to create a platform for public education and advocacy.

To address gaps in traditional data collection, the website integrates official datasets with citizen-reported noise data (European Environment Agency, 2021), encouraging public participation to enhance data completeness.

Core Features:

• Noise Hotspot Map: Interactive map allowing users to view noise data across different regions.
• Health Impact Information Section: Science communication based on WHO research on noise and health.
• Data Visualization Charts: Visual trends and distribution of noise pollution and health impacts.

We emphasize cross-class data inclusivity and rely on authoritative sources (EEA and WHO) to ensure data accuracy and transparency.

Understanding the Importance of Studying Noise Pollution Before and After Lockdowns

To better understand the societal impacts of noise pollution, this study focuses on comparing the situation before and after COVID-19 lockdowns across Europe. The significant reduction in traffic during lockdowns provided a unique natural experiment, enabling researchers to observe the effect of reduced human activities on the noise environment. It also allows analysis of different countries' noise management under varying social conditions.

According to EEA standards, noise levels in low-density residential areas must not exceed specific thresholds, but several reports indicate that before the lockdowns, multiple European countries were already violating these limits. By analyzing these changes, the project aims to reveal whether improvements occurred during the pandemic and advocate for stronger noise governance policies.

What is Noise Pollution?

Noise pollution is a major but often overlooked environmental issue in modern cities. According to the WHO, noise is defined as any unwanted or disruptive sound, commonly originating from traffic, construction, and crowd activities. Although invisible, its impact on health is profound and undeniable.

According to WHO research, prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to:

• Sleep Disorders: Affecting sleep quality and increasing the risk of chronic diseases.
• Cardiovascular Diseases: Long-term exposure to traffic noise increases the risk of hypertension and heart disease (European Heart Journal).
• Psychological Stress and Anxiety: Noise exposure keeps the body in a state of constant alert, raising the likelihood of anxiety and depression.
• Cognitive Decline: Children exposed to noisy environments show impaired academic performance and long-term developmental impacts.

Effective noise management and personal protective strategies are crucial for improving overall quality of life.

Data Politics and Power: Who Records Noise? Why? Who Is Ignored?

Data collection is not a neutral act; noise data tends to be concentrated in wealthier, politically powerful areas (Couldry & Powell, 2012). Poorer and marginalized communities often lack sufficient noise pollution data, excluding them from policymaking processes. According to EEA reports (European Environment Agency, 2021), monitoring points are more densely distributed in central urban areas, while marginalized and low-income neighborhoods are often overlooked. This phenomenon of "data rich" and "data poor" communities (Couldry & Powell, 2012) reinforces social inequality.

Public Perception and Invisible Pollution: How to Reveal "Invisible Violence"?

Unlike visible air pollution, noise pollution represents "invisible violence" that is easily masked by daily routines. However, WHO research shows that long-term exposure to traffic, industrial, and other noise sources can cause cardiovascular diseases, sleep disorders, and cognitive decline (World Health Organization, 2018). Through visual maps and data graphics, this project seeks to make the health impacts of noise pollution tangible, raising public awareness and driving stronger policy responses (Couldry & Powell, 2012).

Big Data Inequality: The "Rich" and the "Poor"

Large-scale data monitoring projects often focus on resource-rich regions, while data collection in marginalized communities remains inadequate. Couldry & Powell (2012) emphasize that such "big data inequality" marginalizes the poor in environmental governance. The EEA also highlights that the elderly and children are among the most vulnerable to noise pollution, yet current data coverage for these groups remains insufficient (European Environment Agency, 2020).

Data Motivation, Sources, and Potential Biases

Current noise pollution data primarily comes from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and national government bodies, focusing mainly on traffic noise from roads, railways, and airways. These datasets support environmental monitoring and policy evaluation.

However, there are several limitations:

• Only traffic noise is extensively covered; localized noise sources such as markets or construction sites are largely excluded.
• Data density varies, with certain regions (e.g., Eastern and Southern Europe) underrepresented.
• There is no direct integration of noise data with health outcomes; most conclusions rely on inferential links.

Thus, despite abundant research indicating the health risks of noise pollution, the actual extent of the impact may still be underestimated, calling for more precise and comprehensive data collection efforts.