Supervisors info:
Παναγιώτης Θεοδωράτος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Δημόσια Υγιεινή, ΤΕΙ-Α
Νικόλαος Καβαντζάς, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Ανδρέας Λάζαρης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
A person’s acoustic spectrum is specific and the frequencies they can listen, vary with the age
and condition of hair cells in the ear. More important, however, these cells belong to the ones in the human body that are not regenerated.
Sound pollution is considered a "pollutant" and it is one of the most serious causes of quality
degradation of human life. Employees, customers, neighbors, everyone is exposed, in different ways and duration, to noise. This combined with people’s uniqueness (sufferers of some illness,
the existence of factors that contribute to increased sensitivity to noise) leads to the increase or decrease of the effects of noise, respectively.
The legislative framework will be mentioned. Legislation in the European Union gives
directions and sets emission limits of noise. Unfortunately, however, legislation tends towards liberating limits, lessening preemptive controls and the defined terms for licensing, as well as
hindering the imposition of fines or the withdrawal of licenses for using music in cases of
infringements, in the name of "promoting" entrepreneurship. In other countries, such as the USA, there is no legislative framework and it is up to each person's personal will to protect themselves
from the negative effects of noise.
There is the wrong feeling that by simply increasing the volume of music, customer
entertainment improves automatically. The reason the increase of each dB is important for the final effect of the sound of noise and the impact of noise on the human body by harming three
levels, will be presented (Effects on the hearing system, More general health effects, Social /
emotional / psychological effects, Impact on people already suffering from some illness or
irregular physiology). This impact is dramatic (increase in blood pressure, anxiety, tinnitus in the ears, stress, diplacusis, etc.), cumulative and often irreversible.
Evidence of what happens with noise pollution in Places of Public Entertainment during 2006 to 2016 in the Regional Unity of the Northern Sector of Athens in Region of Attica, will also be
presented. Is the law respected? To what extent it has achieved the purpose of defending public
health, from the year-by-year adoption of new laws on the use of music? Are there complaints
from residents / clients / employees? What conclusions can be drawn from the inspections and what are the actions taken by the Sanitary Department within its remit?
The means and knowledge, about the proper use of music in Places of Public Entertainment,
will be mentioned, both for the maintenance of its purpose, namely entertainment and wellness,
as well as for the protection of customers, workers and neighbors.
How the music will retain its original purpose and destination, in Places of Public Entertainment, with correct planning, the placement of sound sources in these places, appropriate sound intensity / energy, controlling the risk to people exposed to noise, taking precautionary
measures, constantly reviewing and improving the system for the effectiveness of design and
protective measures.
Keywords:
Effects of noise, Sound, Places of Public Entertainment, Sound pollution
