Other Sources of Noise

In addition to the numerous sources of noise discussed in this section, there are also many other sources of unnecessary noise. It is probably impossible to catalogue all the sources of excessive noise in modern American life, but here is an attempt:

– Airport announcements
– ATVs

– Beeping golf carts
– Boats
– Boom box on a bike
– Boom box on a back pack
– Boom chairs
– Buses: screeching brakes/ wheelchair lifts
– Buzzers
– Car traffic

– Cell phones: loud rings
– Chainsaws
– Church bells
– Diesel trucks
– Dishwashers
– Exhaust fans
– Factories
– Farm equipment

– Fast food drive-through speakers
– Fireworks
– Food blenders
– Garbage trucks
– Hair dryers
– Home entertainment systems

– Hornblasters
– Jackhammers
– Jake brakes
– Jet skis
– The “Kokomo Hum” (unexplained buzzing sound)
– Loudspeakers embedded in a hot tub
– MPE-enabled car horns (distinctive sounds)
– Mini-scooters
– Motorized scooters
– Movie theatre ticket-sellers (loud microphones)
– Movie trailers
– Nightclubs
– Office noise: radios, fax machines, telephones
– Outdoor entertainment systems
– Police and fire sirens
– Restaurants
– Rock concerts

– The Rumbler (intentionally noisy police vehicle)
– RV generators
– School bands
– Ships
– Shooting ranges

– Shop tools
– Sidewalk sweepers
– Snowmobiles
– Standby generators
– Stock car races
– Store public address systems
– Store check-out alarms
– Store walkie-talkies
– Subways
– Toys
– Vacuum cleaners
– Video arcades
– Wind turbines

With each of these sources of unnecessary noise, the approaches for noise reduction are clear: (1) if possible, avoid noisy situations; (2) use quiet products yourself; and (3) complain to the appropriate authorities.