In the books opening chapter, Nefta Eleftheria Votsi, Ph.D., Athanasios Kallimanis, Ph.D., and Ioannis Pantis, Ph.D. methodically review present collected works to clarify Quiet Areas categories to identify research gaps and establish guidelines for the addition of Quiet Areas initiatives in cohesive environmental management approaches. Next, Angel M Dzhambov, MD and Donka D Dimitrova, Ph.D. examine the risk of hypertension connected to road traffic noise exposure in different ethnic groups in Bulgaria. Supplementing this, Hussein M Elmehdi, Ph.D. discusses noise exposure and related health risks with the goal to connect the results of measured noise exposures to sleep disturbance and annoyance. Angel M Dzhambov, MD proves a review of literature on traffic noise reduction by vegetation. Then, Janusz Bohatkiewicz, Ph.D. and Maciej Hałucha present a study on quit pavements. Ending the book, David Isaac Ibarra Zarate gives an overview of the issue of road traffic noise while also presenting possible solutions.

Various methods of assessing noise, loudness, and noise annoyance are reviewed and explained; sources, types, and intensities of traffic noise are noted; typical means of abatement and attenuation are described; design criteria for various land uses ranging from low-density to industrial are suggested and compared with the results of previous BBN and British systems for predicting annoyance and complaint; and a design guide for predicting traffic noise, capable of being programmed for batch and on-line computer applications, is presented in form suitable for use as a working tool. A flow diagram describes the interrelationships of elements in the traffic noise prediction methodology, and each element is discussed in detail in the text. The text is presented of a tape recording that takes the listener through a series of traffic situations, with such variables as traffic distance, flow velocity, distance, outdoors and indoors, and presence or absence of absorbers and attenuators.

This synthesis will be of interest to highway environmental engineers, noise analysts, design engineers, maintenance personnel, planners, administrators, and others responsible for the design, selection, and maintenance of noise barriers or other traffic noise abatement policies. Information is provided on current state practice associated with noise abatement techniques and on the various products that are used. This synthesis describes the state of the art with respect to traffic noise abatement procedures, especially noise barriers. This report of the Transportation Research Board provides information on the design, construction and maintenance of both new (Type I) and retrofit ( Type II) noise barriers. The design elements that are addressed include materials, the selection process, service life, foundations, drainage, aesthetics, and safety. The construction section covers technical problems related to surface effects, durability, snow damage, and costs. Other noise abatement measures such as insulation and highway design alternatives are also addressed. The issue of public demand and availability funding is included, and recommendations are made to improve the situation.

Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, Second Edition, Six Volume Set presents the newest release in this fundamental reference that updates and broadens the umbrella of environmental health, especially social and environmental health for its readers. There is ongoing revolution in governance, policies and intervention strategies aimed at evolving changes in health disparities, disease burden, trans-boundary transport and health hazards. This new edition reflects these realities, mapping new directions in the field that include how to minimize threats and develop new scientific paradigms that address emerging local, national and global environmental concerns. Represents a one-stop resource for scientifically reliable information on environmental health Fills a critical gap, with information on one of the most rapidly growing scientific fields of our time Provides comparative approaches to environmental health practice and research in different countries and regions of the world Covers issues behind specific questions and describes the best available scientific methods for environmental risk assessment