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{{ANETextoEpigrafe|epigrafe=Noise pollution}}
[[File:Logo Monografía.jpg||left|thumb|300px|Statistical graph: Noise pollution in Madrid during lockdown. 2019-2020. Spain. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.pdf PDF]. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.zip Datos].]]The World Health Organisation regards noise pollution as the second most dangerous environmental risk for the population, after air pollution. Specifically, the European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates that 20% of the European population is exposed to levels of long-term noise pollution (threshold of 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night) that endanger their health by leading to hearing loss, mental health issues and a reduced quality of life.
[[File:Logo Monografía.jpg||right|thumb|300px|Map: Variation in noise levels in Madrid during lockdown. 2019-2020. Madrid. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.pdf PDF]. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.zip Datos].]]The spread of coronavirus was linked to air pollution, as mentioned above, but also to noise pollution, which raises stress levels and weakens the immune system. Thus, according to hospital and intensive care unit admission rates, the incidence of coronavirus infection and the severity of its symptoms are directly related to environmental noise levels. However, environmental noise does not influence mortality (Díaz ''et al.,'' 2021).
During the weeks under lockdown and mobility restrictions in March, April and May 2020, there was a significant fall in noise pollution from road, air and maritime traffic (including underwater noise) and from leisure activities in public spaces. In addition to the policies undertaken by local authorities, it is worth highlighting initiatives kickstarted by many volunteers, such as ''Smart Citizen'' in Spain or ''Silent Cities'' in various countries around the world, which yielded some interesting results –although they shall be understood as an approximation–. These initiatives enabled setting minimum ground noise levels.
Graphs based on open data provided by Madrid City Council, show daily noise reductions (1 April 2019 and 2020) of up to 14% at some gauging stations, such as Méndez Álvaro, Avenida de Moratalaz, Plaza del Carmen and Urbanización Embajada. These same data show variations of up to 10 dB from March to May 2019 and 2020, which, given that dBs are expressed on a logarithmic scale, translates to a significant drop in sound pressure. Similar results were recorded at the three gauging stations taken as an example for high (Glorieta de Carlos V), medium (Paseo de la Castellana) and low (Casa de Campo) noise pollution figures.
<div><ul style="text-align: left; float:left; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px"><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align:top">[[File:Logo Monografía.jpg||left|thumb|300px|Statistical graph: Noise levels in Barcelona during the first wave of the pandemic. 2019-2020. Barcelona. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.pdf PDF]. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.zip Datos].]]</li><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top">[[File:Logo Monografía.jpg||left|thumb|300px|Statistical graph:Noise levels due to nightlife in Barcelona during the first wave of the pandemic. 2019-2020. Barcelona. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.pdf PDF]. [//centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/aneTematico/Europa_Densidad-de-poblacion-en-la-Union-Europea_2019_mapa_18193_spa.zip Datos].]]</li> </ul></div>In Barcelona, data from the City Council used for the graph on ''[[:File:Noise levels in Barcelona during the first wave of the pandemic|Noise levels in Barcelona during the first wave of the pandemic]]'' show minimum figures registered at the beginning of the state of alarm in gauging stations with heavy, moderate an light traffic (between 65-50 dB). These figures show a significant decrease from the equivalent average figures for 2019 (70-56 dB) and the virtual disappearance of noise pollution. However, noise pollution increased on data for 2020 with the return to work during phases 0, 1 and 2 of the downscaling process, with some exceptions at light traffic gauging stations. It is important to note that the figures recorded at the start of phase 2 were close to the baseline figures for 2019, especially in areas with heavy traffic, which means reductions were temporary. The graph on the ''[[:File:Noise levels due to nightlife in Barcelona during the first wave of the pandemic|Noise levels due to nightlife in Barcelona during the first wave of the pandemic]]'' shows how noise pollution from nightlife fell from over 60 dB, recorded for the March-June 2019 period, to 50 dB on most streets (pedestrian streets with nightlife venues, streets with traffic and nightlife venues and streets with bar terraces and people gathering) during the state of alarm, the return to work and the subsequent phases. A rapid increase in noise levels (55-57 dB) was, however, detected on streets with bar terraces during phases 1 and 2 of the downscaling process.
Finally, the drop in economic activity and transport led to a reduction in the seismic noise made by the vibrations of the earth’s crust. This reduction eased detecting and monitoring lower intensity earthquakes and volcanic activity, amongst other seismic events, as shown in the examples for Granada and Lorca (Region of Murcia/Región de Murcia).
