Noise at this small California airport is causing problems

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: airbus777, licensed under CC BY 2.0

SFGate reports that increased noise from a dramatically increased number of flights at Monterey Regional Airport is causing resident complaints.

This was a small, quiet airport until COVID-19, when air traffic increased. With a $200 million expansion planned, residents are concerned about an increase in already-bothersome airplane traffic. Municipal ordinances limit air traffic, but they have never been enforced. The Monterey City Council is trying to revoke the bans, but citizens are fighting the revocation. A vote is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Aircraft noise is bad for health. The Federal Aviation Administration allows Americans to be exposed to levels of aircraft noise deemed unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency. Aircraft noise stresses the body, causing increases in blood pressure, pulse and stress hormones, leading to hypertension, obesity and increased mortality. In Europe, specific nighttime flights have been linked to specific heart attacks and deaths.

We will follow what happens at the airport and keep readers informed.