A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), published on June 24, 2025, reveals alarmingly high levels of noise pollution across Europe—and its substantial, yet frequently overlooked, toll on public health. Over 110 million Europeans are exposed to transport-related noise from road, rail, and air traffic at harmful levels, triggering an estimated 66,000 premature deaths annually. This chronic exposure is increasingly associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, worsening mental health, and cognitive impairments in children, marking noise as a far more potent health hazard than commonly assumed.
The EEA’s analysis indicates that more than 15 million children reside in areas with noise levels high enough to cause serious developmental harm. Studies suggest nearly half a million young Europeans suffer reading difficulties related to transport noise, while approximately 60,000 experience behavioral challenges each year. Alarmingly, noise is now regarded as the second-largest environmental health risk after air pollution—far surpassing other overlooked hazards like secondhand smoke or lead exposure. The economic impact is extremely high as well, estimated at nearly €100 billion per year.
Between 2017 and 2022, only a marginal 3% decrease occurred in the number of Europeans living in high-sound zones—far lower than required to meet the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan goal of a 30% reduction by 2030. Growing concern has also been raised by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), which criticized stagnant monitoring data, patchy enforcement of noise-reduction strategies, and inadequate national policies. The ECA noted that 15 of 27 EU member states failed to fulfill mapping and action-plan obligations under existing EU noise directives.
Experts emphasize that noise pollution maintains the body in a perpetual “fight or flight” state, inducing chronic stress responses—including inflammation, oxidative damage, hypertension—and contributing to long-term conditions such as stroke, obesity, and diabetes. Children show susceptibility as well: WHO guidelines highlight severe consequences when continuous daytime levels exceeds 55 dB, particularly impacting cognitive performance and learning environments.
To curb this escalating crisis, the EEA recommends a multifaceted strategy: implementing lower speed limits across cities, transitioning to low-sound road surfaces and tyres, enhancing urban public transportation, and promoting safer, quieter travel alternatives like cycling and walking. Rail sound may be reduced via improved track and train maintenance, while aircraft noise could be lowered through optimized flight paths and introducing quieter planes.
Nevertheless, progress remains limited. The European Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan mandates a 30% reduction in chronic transport noise by 2030—yet current forecasts indicate only a 19% cut is likely. Experts underscore the need to set legally binding noise reduction targets and integrate WHO’s stricter exposure thresholds into EU law.
The EEA warns that without bold, coordinated urban planning and transport policies, Europe’s noise footprint will remain a hidden pandemic—damaging millions of lives for years to come.
