Traffic noise harms health in numerous ways. Protracted noise-related stress can exhaust human physical reserves, disrupt the regulatory capacity of organ functions and hence limit their effectiveness. Traffic noise is a potential risk factor for the development of medical conditions and incidents such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. The effects of traffic noise should be further researched in the same manner as provided for in Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 ). Guess it explains why I often need a nap at lunchtime, take pills to control my blood pressure, oh and am slowly loosing my hearing, although that's probably a benefit
