Job performance is impacted even at low levels of traffic noise

These levels of noise pollution, even low, can also disturb our ability to concentrate. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden conducted a study to prove it. They recruited 42 people and they made them pass various laboratory tests. To simulate the noises, they recreated a living room with furniture and installed a loudspeaker system behind the bulkheads. The results showed that the participants obtained significantly worse performance when working with traffic noise in the background. They also felt that the task was more difficult to accomplish. In addition, it is not necessary to have excessive noise to feel the first effects. From 40 decibels, which is equivalent to the sound of a light traffic behind double glazing, the volunteers encountered difficulties (source 1). Finding solutions to remedy these noise nuisances is a challenge. The study authors point out that reducing speeds is not an effective solution, because even at low frequencies it is difficult to eliminate such noise in view of urban sprawleven when using well-insulated windows and buildings complying with construction standards in sound insulation.