Urban noise: physical and biomedical considerations in an european context

Urban noise has ancient origins but today many new serious consequences are known. Urbanization, industrialization and transports diffusion transformed the environment. In noisy cities people often suffer from hearing impairment, insomnia and high blood pressure. The young and workers are the groups at risk. Nowadays new clinical techniques allow the early detection of noise-induced diseases and new techniques are used to monitor the environment. With the aid of models we are able to predict the noise levels in many different areas of the city and create 3-D coloured maps (noise mapping). It is mandatory to comply with regulations in order to reduce the urban noise levels under the fixed limits and to protect the people’s health. A healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants is recommended in order to protect the inner ear cells from noise injury. Finally, some European projects are briefly reported