13/09/2013 00:00
TW
0
STAFF REPORTER IT would seem that the Balearic capital is not the place for those seeking “the quiet life” with a report issued yesterday suggesting that noise produced in the city by traffic, construction and night-time “leisure spots” is vastly superior to average levels emitted by other cities in central Europe.

Findings were presented yesterday by ear, nose and throat specialist, Ferran Tolosa, co-author of “Noise and the workplace.” Doctor Tolosa asserts that noise pollution could be reduced “by correct resurfacing of streets, a better thought-out distribution of traffic lights and a strict speed limit in certain parts of the city. The law, he said, can also crack down heavily on companies who expose employees to noise levels over the accepted limit of 87 decibels, with fines ranging from 600, to 12'000 and 300'000 euros. In the Balearics, a report for 2006 shows that there were 36 workers on sick leave as a direct consequence of effects of excessively strong noise in the workplace. The figure represents a 160 percent increase on the previous year, largely due to the soaring rate of construction projects which were under way during this period.

Tolosa went so far as to allege that “noise invades private space with individuals being unable to defend themselves against it.” This, he claims, is tantamount to “physical aggression” which can also affect the nervous system.