NYU studies New York City’s noisy subways

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Jacob Zyc

The WPIX television station in New York City recently reported on research being done at New York University on subway noise. The researchers measured noise levels at 170 subway stations in New York, Philadelphia, Montreal and Toronto. Average sound levels were 83.3 decibels with peak levels of 94.8 decibels. These sound levels exceed safe noise exposure limits calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency and recommended by the World Health Organization.

The report quotes a subway rider who uses noise-cancelling headphones to deal with the noise. That’s a good idea. Studies done in many cities including New York and London have reported dangerously high noise levels.

WPIX reported that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York is taking steps to make subways quieter. Transit for London is doing the same. These steps include better rail maintenance, quieter tracks and newer cars.

For platform noise, the best solution is separating the tracks from the platforms with glass barriers that open only when the arriving train has stopped. This method is used in Singapore and Hong Kong. This method doesn’t deal with noise exposure inside the train, but the cars there are quieter.

Until all subway platforms and cars are made quieter — something that may never happen — I recommend that public transit users, whether going to work or traveling on vacation, protect their hearing. That’s what I do, making sure I have a pair of industrial-strength corded earplugs in my pocket before I leave the hotel.

As I often write, if it sounds loud, it’s too loud and one’s auditory health is at risk. In this instance, one can’t turn down the volume or leave the noisy environment, so the only option is to use hearing protection.

Do that, and your ears will last a lifetime.