S-1992-02-1992_OVE
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L’ASSOctATION MEDICALE MONDIALE. INC LA ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 63 – 28, Avenue des Alpes
01212 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex. France
Telex: 385755F WMASFVF
Cable Address: WOMEDAS, Ferney-Voltaire
Telephone: 5040 7575
Telefax: 5040 59 37
September 1992
Preamble
17.G/1
Original: English
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION STATEMENT
on
NOISE POLLUTION
Adopted by the 44th World Medical Assembly
Marbella, Spain, September 1992
The WMA Statement on Pollution adopted in Sao Paulo in 1976 and revised in
Singapore in 1984 refers to noise pollution in one sentence only: “Excessive sound
levels produced by industrial sources, transportation systems, audio systems and
other means, may lead to permanent hearing loss, other pathophysiologic effects,
and emotional disturbances.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes noise as the first environmental
nuisance of industrialized countries and early in 1990 launched II Inter-Health”, a
program aimed at warning all countries against lifestyle-related diseases, and urging
them to take measures against these man-produced noncommunicable diseases.
The general and measurable consequences that intense sound levels may have on
man are manifold, and they affect both the vegetative and the neuro-endocrine
systems.
These physiological effects however, are certainly less significant than the hard to
measure repercussions that noise may cause in the psychological level where
damage is less apparent.
While it is true that irritating noise has increasingly become a polluting agent of our
environment, it is fortunate that modern technology, one of the main sources of the
problem, can also furnish the means to reduce its occurence, its propagation, and its
impact on man.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
2 17.Gl1
The World MedicaJ Association, pursuant to its socio-medical objectives, · draws
attention to the major role that information and prevention ptay with regard to the
damage resulting from intensive noise levels.
The World Medica! Association recommends the adoption of a globaJ strategy and
urges national medical associations to:
1. alert the general public, in particular those responsible for the risk of pollution.
and its potential victims.
2. encourage firms and equipment manufacturers to instatl isolating phonic
materiaJ where necessary so as to ensure real collective protection of the
personnel.
__ ___ _ _ ••_, _._ . . ….. ,,~..,. un:::J ~lIcOuveness OJ
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
convince employees individually to protect themselves against irreducible
noise.
inform young people of the risks of embracing the noise cutt (acoustic drug).
motor bikes, record players and radio. rock concerts, discotheques, portable
radios with earphones, etc.
caJl for adequate legal regulations against intensive noise levels in public
places, vacation resorts, convalescent homes and urban highways (isolating
walls).
support the enactment of legal sanctions, and monitor the effectiveness of
control measures.
control measures.
prevail upon aU educational authorities to introduce instruction at aU schoot
levels on the prevention and elimination of noise pollution.
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