QC’s April Symposium Shines a Light on the Hidden Toll of Noise Pollution on People, Animals, and Ecosystems

Published by QC

On April 9, 2026, Quiet Communities partnered with the Animal Law Program at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law to host “The Harmful Effects of Noise Pollution on People and Animals,” a four-hour virtual symposium drawing participants across multiple time zones. Following a welcome by Colorado attorney, Julian Ellis, Quiet Communities’ Founder and President Jamie Banks, PhD, framed noise pollution as one of the most underestimated environmental and public health challenges of our time, affecting not only quality of life but also fundamental measures of health and ecosystem integrity.

A panel of three leading physicians and researchers presented a comprehensive look at the science of noise and health, detailing how chronic and episodic noise exposure drives cardiovascular disease, stress responses, and neurodevelopmental harm, particularly in children. A second panel of three leading environmental scientists explored how human-made noise disrupts communication, behavior, and habitat use in wildlife, degrades soundscapes on land and at sea, and contributes to biodiversity loss—highlighting the deep interconnections between human health and healthy ecosystems.

The third panel consisting of Julian Ellis and another Colorado-based attorney examined current laws, policy gaps, and emerging litigation strategies around noise regulation, drawing on cutting-edge cases under Colorado’s Noise Abatement Act. A robust Q&A and discussion followed, with participants seeking practical solutions and legal pathways for communities burdened by noise.

The symposium powerfully reinforced that addressing environmental noise is essential to protecting public health, advancing environmental justice, and safeguarding animals and the natural world.

Watch a recording of the symposium.