Though we do not often think of the constant noise we live amidst, especially in our larger cities, or the damage that this is causing to the ecosystem, the effects of noise according to a new study should be treated as a ‘major global pollutant’. According to the study carried out by scientists at Queens University Belfast, the noise created by man from vehicles, industry, planes, ocean going vessels and from other sources has an extremely adverse impact on birds, fish, mammals, amphibians and other species of animal life. It is understood that the noise created by propellers on ships has caused populations of whales to lose sonar communications and result in the mass beaching of these disoriented animals as they lose their sense of directions.
Crucially, the study points out that the issue has an impact on both predators and prey, such as bats and insects, effectively ruining the working of the ecosystem. The authors of the report warn that this serious disruption to the natural environments would have extremely grave consequences. This would finally have an impact also on human life and on the life supported by Planet Earth. The scientists note that the consequences for conservation must be carefully considered given that environmental change and pollution is already affecting both sea and land animals. Noise pollution adds to the dangers they face and, sadly, these dangers have been almost entirely created by man. The scientists warn that the problem must be examined in the context of the ecosystem and what results will be in later years. Already some catastrophic events caused by noise pollution are taking place. Of course, humans themselves are also being affected and caught up in the destructive spiral which affects all living things.
There are perhaps no immediate solutions. But planning needs to begin now to safeguard our future and the future of all creatures who inhabit our planet. Past study had noted that even the smallest change in the ecosystem has extremely far-reaching impact and the world as a whole would suffer if the increasing problem of noise pollution is not brought under check over the coming years through emergency measures.