DiscoverCurrent Affairs on Player FMWhy too much noise is damaging our health - the Sunday Story - The Story
Why too much noise is damaging our health - the Sunday Story - The Story

Why too much noise is damaging our health - the Sunday Story - The Story

Update: 2025-12-07
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Jet engines, the neighbour's lawnmower, traffic noise - it's all terrible for our health. Yet for many years the issue has been dismissed, described as the "poor cousin” of other environmental issues such as litter, air pollution and climate change. So with prolonged noise pollution linked to nearly 1,000 premature deaths in Britain in 2017, why isn't it taken more seriously? How exactly does the daily onslaught of noise affect us? And just why is it so bad for our health?


Written and read by: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, The Sunday Times.

Producer and sound designer: Dave Creasey.

Clips: epidemicsound, BBC.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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Why too much noise is damaging our health - the Sunday Story - The Story

Why too much noise is damaging our health - the Sunday Story - The Story