Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Noise and Nuisance Policy

Health Effect Based Noise Assessment Methods:
A Review and Feasibility Study
September 1998

Appendix I: Letters and tables used for reviewing environmental noise regulations used in the UK and other countries.

Our Ref: ANC15A01
Your Ref:
Direct Line 0181-943 6705
Direct Fax 0181 943 6217
Date

Dear

ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE STANDARDS PROJECT- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

The UK government is considering how best to develop noise standards in relation to known and hypothesized health effects. NPL together with the Institute of Sound and Vibration (ISVR) have been awarded a contract to carry out a review. As part of this review we would very much appreciate your help.

Why you ?

From our existing knowledge, we understand that you are a key worker in this area in your country. We realise that helping us might take a little time, but in return, we will circulate the results of our review to all participants so that you are made aware of the situation in other countries. If however you are unable to assist us, for whatever reason, it would be very helpful if you could let us know, and if possible provide the name and email address of someone who might help and then pass the information on.

What we would like to find out

Current noise standards and noise limits vary in different countries across Europe. We are aware of the standards and noise limits which apply in the UK, their legislative framework and on what basis they were developed. However, we need your help in obtaining the same information for your country. We are interested in three main aspects as follows:

We have been reliant on recent reviews by NPL (Porter 95) and by D Gottlob (Gottlob 95). We enclose copies of these reviews for your information. Of course, there may have been changes since the publication of these reviews and we would like to find out if they are still current, or indeed, if they were entirely accurate in the first place. So where the current situation in your country is adequately represented by these reviews, then please tell us. If there are differences, then please send details. If your country is not covered in either review, then please just provide the information outlined in the next section.

Irrespective of the actual noise limits prescribed in particular standards or legislative controls, there can be large differences in the methods and philosophy against which they have been derived. Undoubtedly, some of the noise standards and limits have been based solely on socio-political interpretation of established noise effects research findings. Others however have been based solely on what is considered practicable in terms of what can realistically be achieved. We are very interested in what particular approach underlies the noise standards and limits in your country. Where you believe that a particular piece of research has had an important influence, then please give us details.

To make the collation of this information easier, we have prepared a framework table, a copy of which is attached. We eventually hope to compile all the information into a large table in order to show similarities and differences at a glance. The table is also enclosed electronically and should load easily onto your pc. We would be most grateful if you could insert information into the framework table either electronically or by hand. A different table is required for each type of noise source (road traffic, railway, aircraft, industrial, domestic etc) and each matter dealt with. We have enclosed an example table for your information. If adequate details for a particular section are given in either of the review articles, then just say so in the table. Also if you do not want to write out the full references and if they are included in either of the reviews, then just indicate the number given to the reference in the relevant review article.

If time is limited, then just send us whatever information you have which you feel is the most important for us to take into consideration in our review. We can always get back to you later with further requests, if necessary. Please send copies of any reports or other references which you feel might help us in this task.

What to do next ?

1. Having read through this letter, please decide whether you can assist. If you cannot, please pass this letter on to someone who may be able and let us know what you have done.
2. Please comment on the validity of information in the review articles enclosed with this letter.
3. Please complete the framework table, using a different table for each noise source and each matter dealt with. Remember, brief details are better than none at all!
4. Please return all the information and any supplementary reports, papers and references to:

Nicole D Porter
Centre for Mechanical and Acoustical Metrology
National Physical Laboratory
Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW
United Kingdom

or alternatively you could fax us on: +44 181 943 6217
or use email: nicole.porter@npl.co.uk (you could attach the file)

by the end of February 1998

Then sit back and await your free copy of our NPL report detailing the situation in other countries!

I would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to help us. We look forward to passing our findings onto you in due course.

Yours sincerely

NICOLE D PORTER
Senior Research Scientist

Encs: Copy of pro-forma table (on paper and on disk)
Example table
Paper by Gottlob
Report by Porter

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