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EuropeThe Guardian view on noise pollution: keep it down | Editorial
<p>New research linking the issue to Parkinson’s disease adds to the evidence of serious health repercussions from traffic volume and other sources</p><p>The roar of late-night traffic is not just annoying for those trying to sleep. It can also have profound effects on their health
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<p>New research linking the issue to Parkinson’s disease adds to the evidence of serious health repercussions from traffic volume and other sources</p><p>The roar of late-night traffic is not just annoying for those trying to sleep. It can also have profound effects on their health. A pioneering new study, published this month, has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/23/road-traffic-noise-parkinsons-disease-study-health">found a clear link</a> between road noise and Parkinson’s disease. The research, which followed more than 3 million Danish participants, found a modest but consistent effect: for every 11.5dB rise in noise level, the risk of the degenerative disorder rose by 3% over the 18-year study.</p><p>The study adds to the growing body of evidence that auditory nuisance is associated with serious physical consequences. The European Environment Agency <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/24/noise-pollution-harms-health-of-millions-across-europe-report-finds">reported last year</a> that more than 110 million people across the continent suffer high levels of health-damaging noise pollution, with physiological stress and sleep disturbance leading to 66,000 early deaths annually as well as heart disease, diabetes and depression. It found that the harm caused was greater than from secondhand tobacco smoke exposure.</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:[email protected]?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/28/the-guardian-view-on-noise-pollution-keep-it-down">Continue reading...</a>