At the University of British Columbia, researcher Weiran Yuchi conducted a study on the neurological health effects of green space, air, and noise pollution. The results were gloomy: due to the noise pollution, people living near major roads or highways develop a higher risk of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, non-Alzheimer’s dementia, or Parkinson’s disease.
It is not scientific proof, but more a statistical one. 700.000 people and their hospital records were observed. Matching the postal code with the address they lived, the researchers knew how close they lived to a busy road.
People living under 50 meters from a major road, or under 150 meters from a highway were the most affected.
Their medical records showed a 7% growth for Parkinson’s, and 14% for non-Alzheimer’s dementia. The study also revealed a 3% to 8% reduced risk for people living in the proximity of green space.
Noise Pollution Might Trigger Neurological Illness
The emotion we call pleasure is a hormonal march into our body. Serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin are released every time we enjoy something. Adrenalin and noradrenalin are being pumped into our system each time something stressful is forced into our everyday life. Adrenaline is the natural anesthetic of the human body. It helps to prevail in pain.
Under the high rush of adrenalin, you can walk with broken leg bones. But stress is also a form of pain, so every time we are under stress, noradrenalin comes to save the day. But constant pumps of adrenalin or noradrenalin are not suitable for the heart, circulatory and nervous system.
When we live under constant subtle stress. And the sound is one of them. The silent assassin. We get used to sounds we dislike: loud neighbors, loud music, site rigs, cars driving on the street. We stop hearing them.
But that’s not true. We adapt, isolating the sound the hurts us, and we carry on with our daily problems. But the sound is still there, and noradrenalin knows it. So, it will protect us from feeling pain, but it will damage our neurological system.
