The state of noise and vibration pollution is measured with the help of a group of indicators from the acoustic climate, understood as an outcome of various types of noises and vibrations: from transport (road, air, rail, water), industry and others.

Most often, the quality of the acoustic climate of the environment is assessed by an indicator of the equivalent noise level, measured in decibels (dB), which is an approximation of the average noise level during a given period of time. It is sometimes supplemented by an indicator of the maximum noise level (also in decibels), especially in the case of short duration noises characterized by high maximum levels. A measure of the global noise threat is expressed by percent indicators: the impact of noise that is above the norm (LZH) and the percent of terrain polluted by such noise (TZH). Also partial indicators are used to estimate the threat in given conditions: in cities, in the workplace, etc. Moreover, the incidence rate of vibration sickness and occupational deafness are used as indicators such as in industry and the military. The state of noise pollution in our country that exceeds the norm has been estimated on the basis of many studies and is presented on maps arranged according to voivodship (MAPS – illustrating noise levels exceeding the norms), with indicators calculated for the end of 1986. The presented maps contain simplified data for years 1989–1990 categorized according to 4 degrees of pollution. Such methodology of presenting this data allowed for distinguishing the group of voivodships most threatened by noise.

Until 1992 about 200 acoustic plans of towns and cities were prepared on the basis of the field measurements results. Because the methods of measurement were not uniform it is hard to compare one to another. Narrowing down to road traffic noise in cities, it can be said that equivalent levels of noises are as follows:
– large cities 65–75 dB
– medium cities 63–73 dB
– small cities 62–71 dB
– rural terrain and settlements 45–62 dB
Also estimated was the percent of people in cities exposed to outside noise exceeding the norm. It was determined that the larger the city the more its populace is exposed to noise. The percent of people exposed is:
– in cities larger than 1 million inhabitants – 40% (according to French studies – 36%);
– in cities from 200 thousand to 1 million inhabitants – also 40% (in France – only 30%);
– from 50 to 200 thousand – 35% (France – 24%);
– from 5 to 50 thousand – 25% (France – 12–18%);
– in rural settlements – only 7% (more in France – 11%).
Among the inhabitants of buildings exposed to traffic noise that reaches an outside (equivalent) level of over 60 dB disease symptoms can be observed. The number of inhabitants of such buildings who complain about being tired and exhausted is 15% higher than that of the inhabitants of buildings where the level of noise is less than the limit of 60 dB. Similarly, 50% more people complain about sleep disruptions and 40% more report symptoms characteristic of neurosis of the heart.

Only 12% of the areas adjoining hospitals meet the acoustic requirements that are set out for them, while in 40% of these areas the equivalent noise levels exceed the limit of 60 dB. The allowable noise level, measuring 40 dB during the day and 30 dB at night, is exceeded a great deal in most health-resorts, especially in those through which high-traffic roads lead (Cieplice-Zdroj, Kudowa Zdroj, Krynica, Szczawno-Zdroj). Measurements made in 8 health-resorts (Augustow, Horyniec, Inowroclaw, Iwonicz, Kamien Pomorski, Polczyn-Zdroj, Rymanow and Wieliczka) have shown the equivalent level of road traffic noise between 60 and 81 dB, and in some, (Iwonicz and Rymanow) above 80 dB.

In the domestic industry the average maximum noise level in the work place is about 100 dB. Thus the average encroachment of the norm which measures 85 dB is sometimes even 15 dB.

About 4 million people work in places which are hazardous because of noise and vibrations. Among them, 1.5 million work in places where noise exceeds the norm, 500,000 where the (equivalent) noise level exceeds 90 dB, and 22,000 where equivalent noise is over 100 dB. 90,000 workers are exposed to vibrations that exceed the norms, while over 800,000 people receive passive vibrations.

As far as noise is concerned, living conditions for about 4.5 million people are worse than preferred, while 2.5 million people live in conditions which are worse than tolerable. About 6 million people complain about noise in residential buildings, of that 800,000 complain about noise from machinery and installations. More than half the inhabitants of cities complain about outside noise, a few less about noise that comes through the ceilings and one-fourth about noise that comes through the walls. Among the workers in industry and transport, deafness is the number one occupational disease. The number of incidences of this disease doubles every 10 years. The third occupational disease is vibration sickness.

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