France warned by European Commission on noise levels
France has been warned by the European Commission to reduce its national noise levels on pain of further warnings and even sanctions.
This week, Brussels demanded that France instantly adopt its action points on the reduction of 鈥渁mbient noise鈥�, after the country was found to be in breach of the 2002 directive on the issue, .
The directive demands that all EU nation states must measure and reduce noise levels in large towns, along main roads and railway tracks, and around large airports, and keep them within the European limits.
These are set at 68 decibels during the day and 62 decibels at night.
France has been found in breach of these levels in 鈥�58 urban centres, along a large number of its main roads and main railway routes, and at major airports鈥�, the Commission said.
It condemned France for not having 鈥渃orrectly measured all of the large infrastructure centres across it territory鈥�, and gave the country two months to 鈥渞ectify this situation鈥�.
Since 2016, the European Commission has brought complaints against 13 member states on the subject of noise in the environment.
The Commission warns that noise, especially that from traffic, trains or planes is the 鈥渟econd largest cause of premature death [among nearby residents] after atmospheric pollution鈥�.
This is because excess or constant noise causes humans to experience a lower quality of sleep and increased stress.
鈥淣oise affects stress and sleep, and there is a demonstrable link between road noise and the risk of increased heart attacks,鈥� explained Antoine Perez Munoz of Bruitparif, speaking to .
Bruitparif is the noise regulator and operator in Ile-de-France, which is one of the departments in the country most affected by noise pollution.
鈥淔rance has been slow at detailing its maps and its action plans,鈥� Perez Munoz admitted. 鈥淥n average, noise pollution causes seven months鈥� loss of good health or life per person, and up to two years鈥� loss for someone living in a very noisy area.鈥�
If France does not satisfy the European Commission within the next two months on the issue, it could be sent a further warning, after which any future breaches could see it summoned before the European Union Court of Justice to receive further possible sanctions.
