The Economics of Expressway Noise Pollution Abatement

The value of noise attenuation policies depends upon the costs that noise imposes. There is little or no information on the medical or psychological impact that noise levels as low as those experienced near expressways (between 65 and 75 dBA) have on human health and well-being. Instead, the nuisance cost of noise was estimated by determining the decline in property values that could be attributed to the level of noise in a neighborhood. Noise levels were measured at 233 locations in the city of Chicago outside homes whose sale price was known. The noise index used corresponds to the new EPA measure of Equivalent Sound Level. The results of the analysis suggest that there is no appreciable nuisance value to noise levels below 50 dBA and that the level of damages are related to the price of the home.