{"id":113555,"date":"2025-04-15T15:57:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T19:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=113555"},"modified":"2025-04-16T08:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T12:00:01","slug":"interview-sound-become-noise-meet-no-noise-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/04\/15\/interview-sound-become-noise-meet-no-noise-toronto\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | When Does Sound Become Noise? Meet No More Noise Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"
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No More Noise Toronto founder Ingrid Buday (Photo courtesy of No More Noise Toronto)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hearing music is typically an enjoyable experience, but the setting is often equally as important. What about that man on the subway or streetcar who insists on playing music or videos from their phone at full volume? Or the neighbour whose stereo sends bass and drum vibrations throughout your home?<\/p>\n

Even music can be considered as noise.<\/p>\n

No More Noise Toronto<\/a> is an organization that is taking on what is said to be the No. 2 public health issue (after air pollution).<\/p>\n

No More Noise Toronto<\/h3>\n

No More Noise Toronto aims to tackle the urban health hazard of noise with action and engaged citizens. Founded by Ingrid Buday, the organization currently has the support of a number of groups, including residents’ associations in north and south Toronto, Yorkville and beyond.<\/p>\n

The plan is to create working groups and task forces of people with similar concerns in order to tackle specific noise sources. Their initiatives include working towards a ban on gas powered lawn care equipment.<\/p>\n

Their recommendations and actions are based on data that is gathered via phone apps and other devices. In doing the work, they provide professional work experience to geography and environmental planning students at the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University.<\/p>\n

The Problem<\/h3>\n

According to the City of Toronto report titled How Loud Is Too Loud: The Health Impacts of Environmental Noise<\/a> (2017), residents are routinely exposed to noise levels over 55 dBA, particularly those living in low income neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n

As the report points out, the World Health Organization established a health-protective guideline of 55 dBA outdoors for both daytime and evening exposures, and ideally 40 dBA for overnight \u2014 although they acknowledge that level is difficult to find in an urban setting.<\/p>\n

Health impacts include:<\/p>\n