Interpreting Findings About Community Response to Environmental Noise Exposure: What Do the Data Say?

How much specific, quantitative information can those who must assess environmental noise impacts find in the technical literature on the effects of noise on people?How may metrics, criteria, guidelines.standards and regulations be derived from the findings of studies of community response to noise exposure?What research directions are suggested by di 'rculties in resolving actual noise controversies?This paper reviews familiar and alternative approaches to answering these questions.Although none of these approaehs is frilly satisfactory from all perspectives, it is helpful to understand the advantages.disadvantaga.and diiferences among them.A criterion in the present context is a statement of an effect of noise exposure upon people or their property.Criteria which summarize what is known about the consequences of a range of noise aposure valus may take the form ofquantitative dosage-rsponse relationships.Criteria are merely descriptive, and are not intended to be either prescriptive or proscriptive.A standard in the present context is a statement of an agreed-upon procedure for measuring or assessing some aspect of noise or its e 'ects; for arample, the magnitude of arposure or the compatrhility of noise with some activity.Standards are developed by voluntary or governmental organizations, generally after prolonged comideration, and are often incorporated into legislation and regulation.Gnldellnea are generic interpretive statemean issued by hodia with regulatory or other interests in noise or its effects.They reflect the charter: and perspectiva of the agencies issuing the recommendations, and are advisory only.