Noise was abated as early as in Ancient Sumer, but it wasn’t classified as a threat to man until as late as a hundred years ago. The first noise levels were measured in several Polish towns in 1933. Regular research conducted at the turn of the previous year showed that ca. 21 percent of Poland’s area and 33 percent of the Polish population are exposed to excessive noise levels. The noise standards are exceeded mainly due to transport and industrial sources. If noise protection is insufficiently implemented as is the case today, the acoustic climate in Poland will deteriorate.
The number of EU citizens living under the plague of noise is large and ever growing. It is estimated that ca. 100-120 million people in the old 15 countries is threatened by noise. In response to the public pressure, the European Parliament passed a directive concerning noise assessment and management. It is responsible for implementing the so called noise policy in ‘1990s. After Poland’s accession, EU law is binding in Poland. The article discusses the workings of Environmental Protection Inspectorate in terms of noise pollution, as a part of the National Environmental Monitoring scheme.