These are the noisiest cities in Europe

Noise pollution can have a major impact on the health of citizens and be the cause of everything from hearing loss to cognitive impairment in children

Recently the UK based financial services provider argent.co.uk published a ranking of European cities based on noise level. The classification itself relates to the number of people exposed to dangerous sound levels. Experts take into account the population density, as well as the Mimi noise pollution score, land and air traffic and traffic jams.

According to the classification Paris is the loudest city in Europe, followed by London and Rome.

While the enormous concentration of people, jobs and connections is one of the main draws of European cities, it can also have adverse effects on people’s health. According to European Environment Agency, road and rail traffic is one of the main contributors to the most serious consequences of noise pollution.

Peace and quiet are vital

Cities are noisy and they can literally be deafening. All cars, low-flying planes, trains, highways, incessant low-humming fans, congested traffic lanes and large numbers of densely populated people are causing huge levels of noise pollution.

Indeed, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA), it remains a major health risk for millions of people. Long-term exposure to high levels of noise pollution can cause a multitude of conditions, such as Noise induced hearing loss, sleep deprivation, increased stress levels, higher blood pressure and cognitive impairment in children.

According to a 2020 EEA article, current data suggests that noise contributes to 48,000 new cases of heart disease per year as well as 12,000 premature deaths in Europe. In addition, they estimate that around 22 million people suffer from high chronic discomfort and 6.5 million people suffer from chronic sleep disorders. Airplane noise alone is linked to 12,500 cases of schoolchildren with reading disabilities at school.

Methodology

The authors at argent.co.uk examined 23 cities and compiled the data. Generally, noises above 55 dB are considered dangerous. With this in mind, they also considered congestion levels, such as engine rumble, to be one of the main sources of noise pollution. At the same time, living near an airport or a busy train station can be a real nightmare, with the vibrations so intense they can shake furniture.

Mimi is a Berlin-based research group focused on sound and sound quality. They publish a global hearing index based on noise pollution and hearing loss.

The densest cities in terms of population and the highest levels of land and air traffic naturally expose the most people to the greatest noise. Paris is a major rail and air hub, with the Paris metro being one of the busiest in the world. The French capital is truly a global city and a hub for millions of people where the soundscape is plagued by horns, screams, trains, bells and crowds that crowd into cafes, bars and terraces.

The loudest cities in Europe

Here are the top 10 most polluted cities in Europe:

1. Paris, France – 10,000 people per square meter, 5.5 million people exposed to automobile noise, 842,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 1.31, overall score – 8.40;
2. London, United Kingdom – 16,000 people per square meter, 2.6 million people exposed to car noise, 591,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 0.95, overall score – 8.21;
3. Rome, Italy – 7,000 people per square meter, 1.7 million people exposed to car noise, 136,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 1.19, overall score – 4.96;
4. Madrid, Spain – 11,000 people per square meter, 1.4 million people exposed to car noise, Mimi noise level 1.17, overall score – 4.69;
5. Barcelona, ​​Spain – 11,000 people per square meter, 465,000 people exposed to car noise, 67,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 1.36, overall score – 4.55;
6. Manchester, United Kingdom – 11,000 people per square meter, 874,000 people exposed to car noise, 54,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 1.05, overall score – 4.40;
7. Vienna, Austria– 14,000 people per square meter, 1.7 million people exposed to car noise, 481,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 0.07, overall score – 4.33;
8. Berlin, germany – 7,600 people per square meter, 664,000 people exposed to car noise, 200,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 0.69, overall score – 3.66;
9. Birmingham, United Kingdom – 11,000 people per square meter, 756,000 people exposed to car noise, 56,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 0.89, overall score – 3.64;
10. Milan, italy – 7,000 people per square meter, 952,000 people exposed to car noise, 70,000 people exposed to railway noise, Mimi noise level 0.78, overall score – 3.41.

the full ranking includes an assessment of 23 cities across the continent.