Industrial noise is one of the consequences of all of the common industrial activities there are today, such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, and many more. The components of machinery generate noise, and with heavy equipment, the sounds can get even louder. The problem is, not only is it harmful for the workers being exposed to industrial noise every day, but it also threatens animals’ survival by interrupting the natural environment they need for essential life. There are plenty of consequences that are particularly related to physiology and behavior. Industrial noise is not just noise; it’s a serious issue that requires more recognition.
It can be predicted that one of the reasons why industrial noise is so harmful to animals is hearing loss. After all, most people may believe that that is the only way noise can cause a negative impact. Many industries can generate 80-120 dBA, and sounds at or above 85 dBA are harmful to animals when it comes to hearing loss. Even so, lower noise levels can be harmful too, since they can interfere with the behaviors of animals – for instance, songbirds adapt to communicate with higher pitches to be heard over the industrial noise. However, that can lead to physiological consequences such as greater energy spent, respiratory demands to produce louder songs, and stunted growth, eventually decreasing its ability to survive. Another change that gets interfered with is the balance of predator and prey. Industrial noises can distract animals and make it difficult for them to detect predators or prey, disrupting ecosystems. Industrial noise can overall distract animals from their actual needs for daily life, as they constantly interpret the harmful noise as something they need to respond to and become stressed over time. In the end, their bodies will only be more susceptible to harm with weakened immune processes from the persistent stress due to industrial noise.
Animal survival is important because the ecosystem depends on it. It all comes back to humans as well, with resources needed for survival coming from a good, balanced ecosystem. There are some ways industrial noise is being limited, especially during critical times for animals, such as during their mating season. One of the reasons why national parks try to minimize noise is to preserve wildlife, demonstrating how significant a change simply noise can have on an ecosystem. Noise should never be underestimated, as this issue persists with many animals still affected.
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