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Noise is an issue that affects us every day in different ways. On the following pages, you will find information and advice on noise pollution. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of noise on our health and the views and options of the health authorities on this issue. In Germany, people are exposed to many different sources of noise, such as road traffic, rail traffic, industry, aircraft, construction sites, neighbours and leisure activities.
However, there is no uniform law that regulates all these types of noise. Instead, the various sources of noise are considered individually and assessed according to different legal regulations. This can make dealing with noise problems complicated and confusing, which is often difficult for those affected to understand.
We are committed to protecting the population from the health effects of noise. To this end, we contribute our health assessment of noise to various planning initiatives and projects.
We formulate positions, statements, demands and recommendations
for the various fields of work:
To this end, we participate in working groups that draw up noise action plans for the city of Bremen. These plans serve to reduce noise pollution in the long term.
Our work aims to limit the adverse effects of noise on health. This benefits all citizens of the city of Bremen and, through construction planning, other institutions such as schools and daycare centres from the outset.
We base our work on the recommendations of the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), as well as the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Noise can affect our well-being and damage our health in the long term. Traffic noise now affects the health of almost one in three Europeans. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), traffic noise in Western Europe causes the loss of over one million healthy years of life every year. Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases.
The WHO lists the following important health risks associated with noise:
Here you can find further information on the health effects of noise.
In 2002, the EU published a directive on the assessment and management of environmental noise, which was transposed into German law in 2005. Noise maps must be drawn up for cities with 100,000 inhabitants or more. On this basis, noise action plans must be developed and reviewed at least every five years. We are part of the working group that is drawing up the action plan for noise reduction. Bremen presented its fourth action plan for reducing noise pollution in 2024.
The trigger thresholds for measures in the city of Bremen have been set at L(DEN) 65 dB(A) and L(NIGHT) 55 dB(A). We are committed to ensuring that these values are lowered in the future in order to avoid health risks.
In urban land-use planning, we consider noise to be an important health factor. The aim is to lower the upper limit of 60 dB(A) at night for new residential developments. We recommend that 55 dB(A) should not be exceeded at night. As a general rule, we assume that residential development is possible without restrictions at a level of 45 dB(A) at night.
We participate in environmental impact assessment procedures in which noise is an important factor.
The expansion of wind energy use for climate-friendly electricity generation has positive effects on the climate, but can also have negative effects on residents. Reports of noise, shadow flicker and night-time lighting of wind turbines are common.
We are committed to assessing all noise sources together, as it is the total noise level that determines the degree of nuisance. In urban areas in particular, several noise sources often interact. A separate assessment is often unsatisfactory for those affected. We therefore call for an overall noise assessment to be included in noise reduction planning.
