The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) has submitted a letter of support for legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, (D-New York-6^th District). The legislation, H.R. 3384, the "Quiet Communities Act of 2015," would reestablish and reauthorize funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Noise Abatement and Control. EPA is the federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment, which includes combating noise pollution.

The letter highlights a study conducted in 2014 that estimated that more than 104 million individuals in the United States had annual noise exposures at a level that increased their risk of noise induced hearing loss and other noise-related health effects, such as cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbance, stress, general annoyance, and impaired learning and concentration.

Although the 1972 Noise Control Act addressed a need for a federal noise emission standard for products distributed in commerce, the Office of Noise Abatement and Control has not been funded since 1982.

In a statement, the AIHA said it believes that legislation H.R. 3384 will also provide important support for the other two key objectives of the 1972 Noise Control Act, which includes:

• Establishing a means for effective coordination of Federal research and activities in noise control and
• Providing information to the public regarding the noise emission and reduction characteristics of consumer products.

Click here to view the full letter.