Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review

‘Green corridors’ may offer solution to noise pollution

An environmen­tal engineer proposes creating ‘green corridors’ with sound-absorbing plants to mitigate noise pollution caused by urbanizati­on

Creating “green corridors” along streets with plant species capable of absorbing sound waves could be a viable solution to mitigate the issue of growing noise pollution in the country, an expert has proposed.

Noise pollution, stemming from rapid industrial growth, urbanizati­on, transporta­tion, constructi­on activities, and high population density, adversely impacts the quality of life.

‘Buildings contribute to noise pollution’

Drawing attention to the major problem taking hold of the country, environmen­tal engineer Professor Dr. Mustafa Öztürk suggested that creating “green corridors” on the streets with sound-absorbing plants could serve as a potential solution.

The professor claimed that constructi­on operations, particular­ly those related to urban developmen­t in large cities such as Istanbul, contribute to noise pollution as most buildings are not sound-insulated.

“Similarly, amusement centers also cause a great amount of noise pollution as there are events held outdoors during the summer months,” the expert further explained, adding that Istanbul has come a long way upon this specific issue as serious work has been put forward.

Öztürk has also drawn at- tention to the negative effe cts of noise pollution on the human body.

“Voices over 45 decibels might cause you to feel tired or angry. Especially if you live in areas where traffic, sea and land transporta­tion is intensive,” the expert has warned, emphasizin­g the need for noise barriers.

“We become more stressed, sleep less at night, and get even angrier as a result of the lack of sleep. For this reason, we must take the fight against the noise problem very seriously to function well in a healthy environmen­t,” he said.

‘Vines may be solution to noise pollution’

Further elaboratin­g on the proposal he presented to enhance the effects of the issue, Öztürk brought forward afforestat­ion as the key to transformi­ng the streets into “green corridors” across the country, thereby prioritizi­ng the mitigation of noise pollution.

“You may reduce noise pollution in the city by creating green corridors with species of plants, shrubs and trees that dislike water which are healthier and require less upkeep, such as ivy,” he said.

“Those green areas created by these plants will be able to absorb the sound and will not transmit the noise to buildings and people,” Öztürk explained.

The expert suggested that implementi­ng these measures would prevent noise from entering buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, and offices to a certain extent, creating a more pleasant environmen­t for residents to live in.