City Noise in India Is Putting Public Health at Serious Risk

From the Editor’s Desk

January 22, 2026

India’s cities are growing louder in ways that endanger public health. New findings confirm that this environmental stressor affects both body and mind, yet monitoring remains inconsistent and enforcement weak.

Researchers across multiple institutions have shown that urban noise in India routinely crosses safe thresholds, according to a analysis published in nature.com. 

In cities like Guwahati, Kota, Lucknow and Delhi, sound levels often exceed 70 decibels adjusted (dB(A)) for human hearing (roughly the sound of a vacuum cleaner a few feet away), with many areas reaching 80 dB(A), which is like standing near a busy highway or a diesel truck at idle, particularly due to traffic and horn use. These levels are known to trigger cardiovascular strain, stress, fatigue, hearing loss and sleep disturbances. The risk is compounded by chronic exposure to mid-range noise, which heightens cortisol levels, a marker of stress.

The National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network, set up in 2011 by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, includes 82 stations nationwide, according to the analysis. However, experts have criticised the network for poor design. Many sensors are obstructed by buildings or trees, which limits the accuracy of data. The stations typically measure only average noise levels, not short spikes or source-specific data.

Field studies in cities such as Kota have recorded continuous violations of noise norms in designated silence and residential zones. In some neighbourhoods, levels are nearly 30 decibels above limits considered safe by national standards, even during night hours. Hospitals, schools and court complexes remain vulnerable, with silence zones rarely respected or policed.

Experts also note that the type of noise is as harmful as its volume.  

Sharp peaks, such as from honking, create acute stress, while constant low-frequency sounds from traffic or diesel generators lead to chronic fatigue, concentration loss and hypertension. Weather conditions and city layout can amplify these effects, particularly in dense, mixed-use urban environments.

Prolonged exposure to loud environments activates the body’s internal alarm system, known as the stress response. At the centre of this system is a group of brain structures and glands called the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. This network controls how the body reacts to stress. When the brain senses a threat, such as constant noise, it tells the adrenal glands to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

These hormones prepare the body to deal with the threat by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. That reaction can be helpful in short bursts. But if the body stays in this state for long periods, it begins to cause harm. The immune system weakens, inflammation rises, sleep is disturbed and the heart and blood vessels remain under strain. These effects add up over time, contributing to what public health researchers call the cumulative burden of disease, meaning a gradual worsening of health due to repeated exposure to harmful conditions.

The World Health Organization recognises environmental noise as a major risk factor, comparable to air pollution. Yet in India, it remains largely outside mainstream public health discourse.

The way noise is regulated in Indian cities suggests a misalignment between medical science and urban policy. Enforcement is rare even when violations are recorded, and there is no automatic process to trigger warnings or action. This reflects what public health scholars call a “risk recognition gap,” where authorities fail to treat certain stressors as part of the health system’s responsibility, despite clear evidence of harm.

Noise pollution also affects people unequally. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are more vulnerable to its effects. Poorer communities, often living near busy roads or industrial areas, face higher exposure with fewer means of protection, leading to environmental injustice.

Noise pollution is not just caused by one thing, such as traffic or construction. It results from the way cities are designed and managed. For example, when residential buildings are placed next to busy roads, markets or factories, the constant activity creates a steady background of noise. This is often seen in mixed-use neighbourhoods where homes, shops and offices all share the same space without proper separation. High traffic density adds to the problem, especially in cities where roads are narrow and vehicles are constantly honking. Commercial equipment such as diesel generators, construction machinery and loudspeakers used in public events also contribute to the overall noise environment.

Public health experts argue that without real-time, local data that shows exactly when and where noise is peaking, it is impossible to design effective rules or take timely action to protect residents. For instance, if a particular junction becomes especially loud during school hours, that information should lead to restrictions on traffic flow or horn use at that time.

Improving this system demands a rethinking of urban sound as a determinant of health. Like air quality, noise levels should be visible, publicly reported and acted upon. Experts have called for each city to create its own detailed noise map that shows exactly where and when noise levels are highest. This means going beyond broad averages to capture real conditions in different neighbourhoods, streets and public spaces. To do this, they suggest using small, portable sensors that can be moved around the city. These could be carried by people, placed on vehicles or installed on lampposts and buildings. Some of these sensors use internet-connected technology, known as the Internet of Things, or IoT, which allows them to send live data to central systems for analysis.

There is also a need to reform how silence zones are defined and implemented. The presence of a school or hospital should carry automatic enforcement obligations, with clear penalties for violations. Public education campaigns could help shift social norms around horn use, generator placement, and night-time noise, much as campaigns against smoking or spitting have changed behaviour a little in public spaces.

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