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(Submission #434)
In the 1997 Green Paper on Future Noise Policy, the European Commission (EC) identified that environmental noise was one of the main health and environmental problems in Europe. The European Parliament urged that specific measures and initiatives should be laid down in a Directive on the reduction of environmental noise. The lack of reliable, comparable data regarding the situation of the various noise sources was also noted. This resulted in the formulation of Directive 2002/49/EC - commonly known as the environmental noise directive (END). In order to provide long term strategic management of environmental noise as a basis for improving public health, the END requires each Member State to produce strategic noise maps, publish data on the extent and impact of noise exposure, and develop action plans. These steps operate in 5 yearly cycles or ‘rounds’. The first round saw the production of noise maps of roads, rail, industry and aircraft noise in 2007, with the second round in 2012. The implementation of each round relies heavily on the spatial and non-spatial data in order to describe the location and behaviour of noise sources and in the production of a 3 dimensional model of the world through which the noise propagates. Noise levels are calculated in specialised software from which the thematic noise level results datasets are produced. The process requires the integration of many different datasets which traditionally are not designed to join together. At both the EU level and at national level, the data supports health based assessments. Various health based metrics can be calculated such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYS). With an increasing understanding of the effects of noise on community health and the associated economic costs, the third round of END will for many authorities be seen as a ‘strategic health assessment.’ The authors have undertaken strategic noise mapping, noise action planning and health assessments in a number of Member States. They have additionally developed the reporting mechanism for noise and worked closely with the Commission in developing the new Common Noise Assessments for Noise (CNOSSOS-EU). Following the recent END REFIT review and at the outset of CNOSSOS-EU, the paper will provide an overview of implementation approaches around Europe covering data integration issues, analysis and publication, showcasing both best practise and ongoing challenges.
Topic Area: [1.9] Environment-related threats to health (pesticides, noise, air/water/soil pollution) Abstract Type: Oral Presentation
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