The BBC article highlights the detrimental effects of traffic noise on children's cognitive development and health. Studies have shown that excessive noise exposure can impair learning, memory, and attention in children, particularly in schools near busy roads or subways.

The Quiet Communities newsletter introduces a partnership with Wild Ones to promote biodiversity and eco-friendly landscaping while reducing noise pollution. It highlights upcoming events, including a virtual discussion with founder Jamie Banks and the U.S. premiere of "The Quietest Year."

The article by QC’s Daniel Fink in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology discusses the safe noise exposure levels needed to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). It emphasizes that prolonged or excessive noise exposure can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis.

The Scientific American article discusses the health risks of noise pollution, including heart disease and diabetes, caused by disruptions to sleep and increased stress. Jamie Banks, who founded Quiet Communities to advocate for noise regulation after experiencing excessive landscaping noise, remains hopeful for future federal action to address and regulate harmful noise levels.

The New York Times article explores the challenge of enforcing bans on illegal honking in New York City, despite its negative health effects. Efforts like noise cameras and advocacy by experts like Arline Bronzaft aim to curb the practice, but persistent driving habits and limited public awareness make it difficult to significantly reduce noise pollution from honking.

The Quiet Communities newsletter celebrates a successful year in reducing noise pollution, featuring the upcoming U.S. premiere of "The Quietest Year" and a panel discussion. It highlights the launch of two new programs—Quiet Streets and Quiet Restaurants—and reports the transition of 820 public institutions to cleaner equipment. The newsletter also gathers community input on noise sources and resources needed, while encouraging donations and memberships to support ongoing efforts to improve community well-being.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit for occupational noise is often cited as the upper limit for loudness in all situations-- but that's not actually the case. Worse, the limit may not even fit modern ears, which face a barrage of loud sound in and out of the workplace, starting at an early age. In this episode, we talk to Daniel Fink of Quiet Coalition about how NIOSH's recommended exposure limit for occupational noise impacts even those of us in quiet workplaces, and why the limit needs to be revised downwards.

Noise is not just a source of annoyance. It is also a public health crisis. Nighttime aviation noise is particularly harmful to your cardiovascular system and sleep hygiene. This episode features Dr. Mathias Basher talking about his ongoing FAA-funded research on sleep and health; Dr. Peter James discussing his just-published research on noise and cardiovascular health; and Quiet Communities founder Dr. Jamie Banks speaking about their efforts to revive the EPA Office of Noise Control and Abatement.

This guide highlights safe and effective leaf blower use, urging users to read the manufacturer's instruction manual before operation. Key tips include keeping bystanders 50 feet away, avoiding indoor use, and inspecting the blower for damage. Proper operation is emphasized for responsibility and courtesy. Leaf blowers are versatile tools useful for tasks like removing grass clippings, cleaning gutters, and clearing light snow.

This booklet shows the proper way to use a leaf blower, as well as the different types of leaf blowers and different jobs that leaf blowers perform. After reading this booklet, you will have a greater understanding of how to use a leaf blower safely and courteously to protect both yourself and the people around you.

Check out landcare courses available through the American Green Zone Alliance and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

New York City is expanding the use of "noise cameras" to ticket drivers of loud vehicles, aiming to reduce noise pollution. These cameras activate at sounds over 85 decibels, similar to lawn mowers. The program, recently supported by a new City Council bill, will have cameras in all boroughs by 2025.

The article addresses the environmental and health issues of gas-powered leaf blowers, which emit significant pollutants and produce disruptive noise affecting communities and wildlife. A MASSPIRG report highlights their carbon emissions, equivalent to pollution from 135,000 cars in Massachusetts in 2020. Many cities, alongside advocacy groups like Quiet Communities, are pushing for a shift to quieter, electric models. Restrictions are increasing, with California set to ban new gas-powered tools next year.

The editorial by Dr. Daniel Fink advocates for a newly adopted definition of noise as "unwanted and/or harmful sound." This redefinition was endorsed by the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise and highlights the need to acknowledge both unwanted auditory disturbances and their detrimental health effects.

Many U.S. cities are banning gas-powered leaf blowers due to their noise and pollution. Jamie Banks of the nonprofit Quiet Communities says support for restrictions has grown, especially after the pandemic.

The article details the efforts of Robyn Elman and Patti Cooper, who successfully lobbied New York City officials to protect about 20 milkweed patches vital for monarch butterfly survival. Their grassroots activism underscores how individual and community actions can impact local environmental conservation, despite broader challenges like climate change.

The report "Lawn Care Goes Electric" suggests replacing gasoline-powered lawn equipment with cleaner, quieter electric alternatives to reduce pollution and noise. Electric models offer long-term cost savings and comparable performance due to advancements in battery technology. To foster this shift, the report recommends incentives, converting government operations to electric equipment, and phasing out polluting gas-powered tools.

Research shows that prolonged exposure to high levels of noise may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In New York City, not only the largest U.S. city by population but also one of the loudest, avoiding noise can be an everyday struggle. Aron Ranen has the story from the Big Apple.

The NPR interview addresses noise pollution as a significant health risk, causing issues like heart disease and hypertension. Jamie Banks, founder of Quiet Communities, and Erica Walker discuss its impact, particularly in minority communities, and emphasize the need for better awareness and regulation. While Europe has effective noise-reduction strategies, the U.S. lacks a comprehensive approach. The goal is to promote quiet as essential for health and learning, encouraging communities to mitigate excessive noise.

This article focuses on Arline Bronzaft’s work to curb harmful noise and more specifically, on New Yorker’s struggle with noise. Bronzaft, PhD, Professor Emerita of the City University of New York, is an Honorary Program Chair of Quiet American Skies at Quiet Communities and on the Board of Director at GrowNYC.