The Livingston County Board is considering a resolution to adopt a sound level ordinance, following a presentation Aug. 10 before the General Government & Health and Human Services Committee.
The presentation from the Livingston County Health Advisory Committee cited a study from the World Health Organization focused on the health impacts of environmental noise in Western Europe.
According to the study, environmental noise can impact cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance and tinnitus. The study noted such noise often comes from roadways, railways, airports and industrial sites.
The committee also cited a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which cited environmental noise as a cause of hearing loss in children, mostly in lower socioeconomic areas and in members of marginalized racial and ethnic groups.
Dawn Smith, committee chair, argued the state’s limit of 55 decibels for certain developments — listed in Public Act 233 — is too high for Livingston County. The proposed ordinance would set daytime (45) and nighttime (40) decibel limits.
The General Government & Health and Human Services Committee unanimously agreed the research should be submitted for review to the Livingston County Health Department, which will draft an ordinance and implementation plan for the Livingston County Board.
— Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Livingston County considers stricter limits on ‘environmental noise’
Reporting by Tess Ware, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tess Ware, Livingston Daily | USA TODAY Network
