Noise comes from the Latin word nausea, originally meaning seasickness. Which is not surprising, because noise makes us sick. Noise can raise blood pressure, change blood chemistry, and make us anxious, tired, and distracted. In addition, noise also affects whole communities. Noise diminishes our sense of civility, numbs compassion, and breeds aggression and hostility.
Noise disturbs our sense of place.
Noise ranks higher than crime, traffic, and public services as a cause of popular dissatisfaction in neighborhoods, according to the U.S. Census. It is one of the reasons people continue to flock to suburbs-in search of peace and quiet. These designs are not always successful. What they are successful at, however, is further isolating neighbor from neighbor. Noise is rapidly becoming our most pervasive pollutant.