When the noise nuisance caused by human activities (quarry, transport, etc.) exceeds the thresholds of safety with respect to auditory acuity, health and ecosystems, we speak of noise pollution.
The consequences of noise pollution
Noise causes discomfort and stress that disturb the body, human or animal. In humans, this can lead to irritability, insomnia and depression. For their part, animals tend to flee, when they can, areas too noisy.
Species that use sounds to locate, move and communicate, such as cetaceans or chiroptera, are particularly vulnerable to this type of pollution.
When the sound level is too high, the noise can cause physiological damage with a temporary or permanent loss of hearing.
What the law says ?
Because of these impacts, national laws tend to impose thresholds for exposure of the population and the environment to noise, to carry out impact studies and to implement mitigation and protection measures ( noise barriers, personal protection ...).
This physical pollution has the advantage of not remaining in the environment. Once the noise source is eliminated, there are no new effects.