Social and health effects of noise and vibration are expressed by the following:
– harmful influence of these contaminants on health of the population;
– lowering the ability and willingness to as well as the efficiency of work;
– negative effects on the ability to communicate;
– hindering the reception of optical signals;
– lowering of learning ability;
– causing tension and arguments between people;
– increasing negative conditions at work and during transport, causing accidents;
– increasing the number of people suffering from occupational deafness and vibration sickness.

Noise and vibrations cause worsening of the quality of the environment and as a consequence:
– loss of an essential value by the environment - silence;
– decrease (or loss) of the quality of recreation and therapeutic areas;
– change of the behaviour of birds and other animals such as causing neuroses,
making them change nesting places, decreasing the number of eggs laid and lowering the animals’ lactation yield.

Noise and vibrations also have negative economic consequences such as:
– faster wear of production and transport;
– worsening of the quality and usefulness of terrain threatened by excessive noise and vibration, connected with the cost of treatment, retiring due to disabilities and loss of workers;
– worsening of the quality of products (dependability and durability);
– difficulties with the export of goods which do not meet world requirements against noise and vibrations.

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