Beyond hearing problems, excessive noise can cause sleep disturbances and other health problems, warns Juan Carlos Estrada Santana, president of the Elda Peniche Larrea Civil Association, on the occasion of International Noise Awareness Day, commemorated every April 30.
He asserted that constant exposure to noise levels above 80 decibels is dangerous, especially in urban areas like Mérida’s historic center.
Estrada Santana noted that, in commercial areas, it is common for merchants to use loudspeakers to attract customers, creating a harmful noise environment for workers and passersby.
“From the moment we enter a business, we sometimes hear very loud speakers, very loud noise. We go to a meeting, a party, and often the recommended decibel level is exceeded,” he noted. According to current Mérida City Council regulations, the maximum decibel limit for both businesses and private homes is 68 decibels from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 65 decibels from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
As of last March, the Mérida municipality had already closed approximately 12 establishments for failing to comply with these regulations. Therefore, the call to follow the regulations is reiterated, with minimum fines in these cases ranging from 35,000 to 38,000 pesos.
Furthermore, Estrada Santana pointed out that prolonged use of headphones at high volumes, especially noise-cancelling in-ear headphones, increases the risk of hearing loss, particularly among young people.
Estrada Santana recommended limiting headphone use to no more than one consecutive hour and keeping the volume at moderate levels. He also suggested that people who work in noisy environments, such as construction companies, use hearing protectors and, in general, seek ways to reduce noise exposure.
In addition, he pointed out that traffic, industry, and noise also contribute to hearing loss. Therefore, he recommended avoiding prolonged use of headphones, lowering the volume on the speakers, encouraging construction workers to use earplugs, and generally seeking relaxing media.
Noise pollution is a silent threat that affects people’s quality of life and well-being. It is everyone’s responsibility to take measures to reduce it and promote healthier environments.
TYT Newsroom
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