Danish activities concerning noise in the environment (A)

Abstract

The paper describes the administrative activities and the distribution between federal and local authorities. The importance of having a federal agency with highly qualified employees who can establish a superior national noise abatement strategy is stressed. The federal authority should represent the country in international collaboration. It is claimed that noise abatement will be diffuse and weak, if it is not based on a national strategy. The discussion of noise in the environment covers: external industrial noise, road traffic noise, and air traffic noise. The principles on which the maximum permissible Danish noise exposure levels are based will be explained. ISO 1996, 1st edition 1971, has played a decisive part. The maximum permissible Danish noise exposure levels for external industrial noise are strict and enforced for new plants and in connection with enlargement of existing plants. The regulations concerning road traffic noise are based on results of extensive interviews of persons living in areas with various exposure levels. The results of these interviews will be reported as well as the conclusions drawn