Source: Environmental Noise in Europe 2020 Report

The Signal: Last year, The New Yorker’s David Owen suggested that noise pollution is “the next big public health crisis.” According to a March report from the European Environment Agency, the number of Europeans in urban areas who are exposed to excessive noise levels will rise significantly between 2017 and 2030:

  • Road (daytime noise): +7.8% (from 78.2m people to 84.3m people)
  • Road (nighttime noise): +10.3% (from 55.1m to 60.7m)
  • Rail (daytime noise): +11.8% (from 10.3m to 11.6m)
  • Rail (nighttime noise): +21.7% (from 7.8m to 9.5m)