Monday, April 11, 2011

CZECH REPUBLIC - Lots of noise and ... nothing

Even a child would be able to draw a map of noise pollution. Just on a city map, draw the grid of streets using a darker color for the trunk. All available data show that the noise in the Czech capital comes mainly from the urban transport network. But there is noise and noise. While, for example, the nightclubs are forced Prague, one after another, reducing their time slots (or even close altogether) for noise nuisance, the municipality informs us that reduce the traffic noise even on court injunction, is simply not possible.

"When you throw a frog into a pot of hot water, it jumps out immediately. If you cons immerse in cold water that you heat gradually, the frog does not feel. The critical moment arrived, it will not be able to escape and she will die. "With this dramatic comparison, Tomas Rihacek, Masaryk University, sounded the alarm over the gradual increase of the acceptable limits of noise pollution.

Pushing the limits, of course, solves the problems of state and local authorities, but increases the risk that you get used to the noise and, insidiously, we use. People react to noise in two ways: either they try to overcome by making more noise, or try to escape the source. "In a noisy environment, people are less tolerant and less willing to reach out to others.

When the street is quiet, people more easily help someone in distress. They spend their way when they are near a jackhammer, "said Tomas Rihacek. However, imposing a certain calm in a public space is more complicated than all of us perceive sounds differently, depending on its nature and its emotional state.

But there is still an objective limit to the tolerance to noise. While up to 65 decibels emotions play a role, beyond our body reacts negatively, even if the sounds seem a priori pleasant (like a rock concert). The body reacts to noise as any other form of stress: the organization must do more to simply remain in working order.

Studies show that prolonged exposure to noise can increase blood pressure, lower immune function, and leads to sleep disorders and the onset of neurosis. In addition, the body acts as a drip tray, where each exposure to a noisy environment adds to the overall weakening of the body. According Zdenka Vandasova, National Institute of Health, which contributes most to this decline, the differences are not punctual (the high decibel rock concert), but the long-term costs, as Daily use of television in the background.

While all agree that the main problem of noise, the Czech Republic, is the road or urban, we are, even without cars, subjected to noise pollution at virtually every step. TV channels, for example, increase their noise level at the pages of advertising, and advertisers are refusing to call into question the privilege.

Czech Republic, the tolerated noise thresholds (60 dB average day and 50 at night) are fixed by decree, by their nature more easily editable. In accordance with the prerogatives, powers of inspectors InVS not measure the noise in the home or immediate vicinity. That is why complaints against mobile phone ringtone, against sound overly strong in the movie theaters, against the proliferation of music in the malls or cons ads in the subway are not even considered by this body.

Therefore no control noise pollution in public spaces. The citizen was ultimately no other recourse but to appeal directly to managers of bars and restaurants, hoping they will show good will. The increased noise levels in all cases becomes recurrent. "Ideally, these increased levels in the cities continues.

We should stick to the limits usually accepted today, "concludes Jan Stenicka, association Hudekos citizen to defend against noise.

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