The world has become quieter during the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic and related restrictions have reduced the level of noise on the planet, scientists from the University of Michigan have found. During the study, they looked at decibel data collected by 5,894 Apple Watch and iPhone owners, Environmental Research Letters reports .
In total, more than half a million measurements were made, both before the pandemic and during it. It turned out that in March-April 2020, the average daily noise level decreased by almost 3 dB compared to January-February.
Initially, the maximum reduction in sound exposure was observed on weekends. But gradually, as more and more people began to switch to remote work, the difference between weekdays and weekends began to smooth out.
So, if at the beginning of the year the indicator was 73.2 dB, then later – 70.6 dB. According to doctors, sounds exceeding 70 dB can damage hearing over time. Chronic sound exposure can also lead to cardiovascular disease and other health problems.
“This is a huge reduction in terms of impact, and it can have a big impact on human health,” the study authors noted.
Pandemic-related restrictions were previously reported to have reduced seismic noise by 50%. These are vibrations arising from soil drilling, construction and other earthworks.
