A report by the European Environment Agency shows that noise pollution causes 66,000 premature deaths each year and seriously affects the health of millions of Europeans.

More than 110 million Europeans are exposed to dangerous noise pollution, leading to 66,000 premature deaths each year. Traffic noise from cars, trains and airplanes affects sleep and increases the risk of serious illness, especially among children. The report emphasizes that the effects of noise pollution are worse than those of passive smoking and generate economic costs of almost €100bn a year. Measures such as reducing speeds in urban areas and promoting public transport could mitigate these effects.