Specialists in noise and health have been acting as expert witnesses to give evidence on noise and health to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. This is part of the Lords public inquiry on the impacts of noise pollution on human health. Last week Professor Anna Hansell, Professor Charlotte Clarke and Dr Antonio Torija Martinez explained epidemiological and technical evidence on noise and health impacts.

The March/April 2023 issue of Acoustics Bulletin is now available to member and, apart from all the regulars, it includes these articles:

The IOA and UK Acoustics Network (UKAN) have written to the Prime Minister expressing concern that the former Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has returned £1.6 billion of funds to the Treasury. This money had previously been allocated to support scientific research. Our letter sets out that loss of this funding will directly adversely affect the competitive position of UK plc – placing universities and businesses at a competitive disadvantage on the world stage.

The IOA have responded to the consultation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on their proposed approach to updating to the National Planning Policy Framework for England. The comments refer to paragraph 160 which covers the determination of planning applications for renewable and low carbon development. This covers the approval of extending the life of existing renewables sites, and advocates assessing them in relation to the existing baseline on the site.

The next EAA Summer School for Young Acousticians is open.  Summer School registration will be possible until August 30. Note that the deadline for the Grants application is on March 31. 

A set of guidelines has been compiled to bring consistency and good-practice to the application of acoustic monitoring for assessing biodiversity, habitat health and environmental change. Based on peer reviewed literature, the guidance - Good Practice guidelines for long term eco-acoustic monitoring in the UK -  enables a crossover between academia and the practical use of bioacoustics in areas such as agri-environment monitoring, Biodiversity Net Gain, habitat creation, rewilding and species conservation.

This competition is for a small team of up to 3 students between 11 and 16 years of age.

The Department for Buisness, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) commissioned a report to review current guidance for assessing the noise impact of onshore wind turbines, which is now available. This comes as government consider the capacity of the UK to deliver renewable electricity. The potential noise impact of onshore commercial wind turbines is curently assessed by guidance published in 1996 – known as ETSU-R-97.  Since the 1996 technology has advanced, new research has been undertaken and understanding of wind turbine sound has progressed.

In a current consultation on changes to the MOT, the Department for Transport are considering a metered test for noise. Currently vehicles are subject to a subjective examination of the noise level. The consultation acknowledges that vehicle noise currently causes annoyance in communities, and can have serious environmental health effects, and states: