Big cities urged to curb noise pollution
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Each of the 113 major cities in China is being asked to erect at least one billboard by the end of 2011 to inform the public of the amount of noise it generates, as the country's environmental watchdog vowed to strengthen controls on noise pollution.
The government is publishing new rules in an attempt at managing noise from transportation, construction, industries and households. That information is contained in a notice jointly published by 11 ministries aiming to tackle the increasingly prominent problem of noise pollution, Tao Detian, speaking for the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said on Tuesday.
The notice states that noises caused by high-speed trains and aircraft must be managed to reduce the number of complaints from residents living near the railway stations and airports, while noise barriers should be installed along highways in residential areas.
According to the notice, those overseeing urban construction sites will be asked to apply for official permission to emit loud noises. City governments will be asked to strengthen their monitoring for noise at construction sites, and set limits to their hours of operation.
What's more, the new rules will no longer allow shops to use loudspeakers outdoors to attract passers-by. They will meanwhile encourage the proprietors of open markets to move indoors if their peddling proves to be too much of a nuisance to residents of nearby neighborhoods.
The new rules come amid an increasing recognition of the dangers of noise pollution. Exposure to excessive noise can cause hearing loss, stress, difficulty in sleeping, irritability, indigestion, heartburn, high blood pressure and ulcers, among other health problems.
Complaints about noise pollution have been on a surge in recent years, largely as a result of rapid urbanization, Tao said.
The ministries' notice states that curbing noise pollution should be a priority of environmental protection plans for the next five years at both the national and local levels.
All 113 cities are being asked to pinpoint their major noise pollution sources by the end of the year and install noise-monitoring meters to establish a supervision network. The goal is to greatly reduce noise pollution by 2015.
The notice states that enterprises that violate the noise pollution standards will be fined.
