July Issue

Cairo's Noise Pollution

(A KILLER)

From blaring car horns to wedding parties, rising noise pollution in the 24-hour metropolis of Cairo has reached alarming levels, leading to hearing problems, irritability and even death. Living in the city center, where noise levels reach an average of 90 decibels (dB) and never drop below 70 dB, is like spending all day inside a factory, a 2007 study by the Egyptian National Research Center (NRC) stated.
 
 “What’s striking about Cairo is that noise levels on different streets at different times of day are well over limits set by the environmental protection agency (EPA),” In downtown, noise levels may attain 90 dB at 7:30 am, bearing in mind that the normally acceptable level set by the EPA is 35-55 dB.
 It causes “an accumulation of stress hormones, inflammation and changes in body chemistry that eventually lead to problems such as impaired blood circulation and heart attacks. Please Consider this next time you drive downtown and be careful with your horn.