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Albania exceeds the WHO norm for noise, Tirana holds the head of noise pollution

Albania exceeds the WHO norm for noise, Tirana holds the head of noise pollution

Albania remains a noisy country exceeding the norms of the World Health Organization.

Field measurements, in a good part of the cities in the country, show that noise pollution is a problem both during the day and at night.

A recent report by institutions underlines that noise is becoming a serious concern for the mental and physical health of the population.

"Monitoring of noise during the day is carried out from 06:00 to 23:00, where with the data monitored in this period, the daily LAeq is calculated for each station and the daily LAeq for the monitored cities. Based on the noise monitoring data during the day, as it appears from the graph above, we notice that we have exceeded the norm during the day (which is 55 dB) in all cities.

The highest level of noise was assessed in the city of Tirana where we exceeded the norm by 17.9%, Shkodër 15.01%, Vlora 14.18%.

The lowest levels were monitored in the cities of Kukes, Pogradec and Berat," says the report of the National Environment Agency, which refers to measurements made from January to December 2023.

The indicators change slightly in order when the measurements are made for the night time, which according to KTA is carried out from 23:00 to 06:00.

According to the report, based on the data monitored at night, it is observed that the highest exceedance of the norm at night (which is 45 dB) is found in all cities. The highest level was monitored in the city of Vlora where we exceeded the norm by 21.75%, Tirana by 21.15% and Shkodra by 18.57% and the lowest levels were monitored in the cities of Kukës, Pogradec and Korça.

According to KTA, in all cities monitored from 2018-2023, we exceed the standard for LAeq during the day. While at night it is observed that in the cities of Berat and Kukës they do not exceed the LAeq/Night standard for 2023.

"The main impact on the increase in the level of noise in the monitored cities is estimated to be the large flow of vehicles. The motor condition of the vehicles in circulation and their old age bring about a decrease in the optimal parameters of the vehicle's technical certificate, related to the emission of noise, the horns of the vehicles whose drivers sound indiscriminately.

At night, environmental noise starting at LAeq levels at 45 dB can cause negative effects on sleep such as body movements, awakenings, restlessness, as well as effects on the cardiovascular system that become apparent above 55 dB. Noise is becoming an ever more serious concern for the mental and physical health of the population", assesses AKM./Monitor

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