The Influence of Low-Frequency Noise Pollution on the Quality of Life and Place in Sustainable Cities: A Case Study from Northern Portugal

Juliana Araújo Alves, Lígia Torres Silva and Paula Cristina C. Remoaldo
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Juliana Araújo Alves: Lab2PT—Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Lígia Torres Silva: CTAC—Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Paula Cristina C. Remoaldo: Lab2PT—Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, issue 10, 1-27

Abstract: Discussing urban planning requires rethinking sustainability in cities and building healthy environments. Historically, some aspects of advancing the urban way of life have not been considered important in city planning. This is particularly the case where technological advances have led to conflicting land use, as with the installation of power poles and building electrical substations near residential areas. This research aims to discuss and rethink sustainability in cities, focusing on the environmental impact of low-frequency noise and electromagnetic radiation on human health. It presents data from a case study in an urban space in northern Portugal, and focuses on four guiding questions: Can power poles and power lines cause noise? Do power poles and power lines cause discomfort? Do power poles and power lines cause discomfort due to noise? Can power poles and power lines affect human health? To answer these questions, we undertook research between 2014 and 2015 that was comprised of two approaches. The first approach consisted of evaluating the noise of nine points divided into two groups “near the source” (e.g., up to 50 m from power poles) and “away from the source” (e.g., more than 250 m away from the source). In the second approach, noise levels were measured for 72 h in houses located up to 20 m from the source. The groups consist of residents living within the distance range specified for each group. The measurement values were compared with the proposed criteria for assessing low-frequency noise using the DEFRA Guidance (University of Salford). In the first approach, the noise caused discomfort, regardless of the group. In the second approach, the noise had fluctuating characteristics, which led us to conclude that the noise caused discomfort.

Keywords: noise pollution; low-frequency noise; DEFRA; human well-being; sustainability; power poles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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