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It is estimated that 78% of Ile-de-France residents are concerned about noise, an increased sensitivity since the health crisis, and 65% have already given up a place to eat because of noise, studies published yesterday on the occasion of the Week of the Sound of Unesco, from January 16 to 29.
“Noise is a sound that we do not want and which can generate violence. Unlike the 19th century, the noise of cities today is never empty”, declared to the press Christian Hugonnet, president of the association “La Semaine du son”, which raises awareness of the importance of the sound environment.
Noise: 4th major inconvenience of living in Ile-de-France
According to a study by Crédoc (Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions) for BruitParif carried out at the end of 2021 unveiled on Thursday, 78% of Ile-de-France residents are concerned about noise, cited as the 4th major inconvenience of living in Ile-de-France, almost on a par with air pollution.
Among the sources of noise that bother the most at home, 30% of respondents cite road traffic and 25% the neighbourhood.
The health crisis and the experience of calm during confinement have also greatly changed the population’s relationship to noise.
“Sensitivity is higher than before. Ile-de-France residents think that the noise has increased when we know from our measurements that there is no overall increase”, said Fanny Mietlicki, director of the Ile-de-France Bruitparif observatory.
“A year of healthy life lost”
According to her, the noise exposure of Ile-de-France residents “represents on average one year of healthy life lost”.
Among the consequences, 14% of Ile-de-France residents say they take medication to help them cope with noise and 39% feel a direct impact on their health (fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances).
In addition, 46% of regular Ile-de-France teleworkers face difficulties working from home. Another finding is that the quality of the sound environment and access to quiet areas vary greatly according to income.
65% gave up a place to eat because of the noise
According to a second study carried out at the end of November by OpinionWay on noise in cafes, bars and restaurants, 65% of respondents say they have already given up on a place to eat because of noise.
The Ademe (Energy Transition Agency) estimates the health and economic consequences of noise at around 145 billion euros per year in France, including 42 billion for Ile-de-France alone.
Labels should be created to promote the initiatives of calm spaces or “peaceful moments” taken by communities and private companies.