ABSTRACT
The Environmental Noise Directive (END) has initiated a change in the way environmental noise pollution is perceived and managed. Advances in measurement technology and evolving legislation have facilitated considerable progress in moving noise from an intangible by-product of industrial development to a quantiable and manageable pollutant. The associated legislation in European Union (EU) member states has provided a framework for assessing and tackling major sources of noise pollution and represents a signicant step toward a better acoustic environment. The harmonisation of methods and standards among responsible authorities means that noise pollution will be treated more uniformly across all member states, and best practices and methods of tackling noise will also become more standardised. However, there remains one factor in noise pollution management that cannot be standardised: the perception and reaction of individual members of the public.
