WHO – Night Noise Guidelines for Europe

“Environmental noise is a threat to public health, having negative impacts on human health and well-being.”

WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, and recognizes the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health as one of the fundamental rights of every human being.

In order to support the efforts of the Member States in protecting the population´s health from the harmful levels of noise, WHO issued Guidelines for Community Noise in 1999, which includes guidelines for community noise in various settings based on the scientific evidence available.

The evidence on health impacts of night noise has been accumulated since then.

In the WHO European Region, environmental noise emerged as the leading environmental nuisance triggering one of the most common public complaints in many Member States.

Download the World Health Organisation Guideline →