Wednesday, Oct-23-96 Toronto Star
Noise a serious health issue
Re: your Oct. 16 editorial, Jets at island airport. The Star's support of jets for the island airport is as predictable as the Toronto Island and downtown residents' opposition to the jets.
On this issue, The star's editorial board gives the impression that it has a monopoly on wisdom and is just waiting until the rest of us are overcome by it. I am sure you are aware of a November, 1994, City of Toronto report on noise control. It showed that in the 211 points where the city takes annual readings, noise has been increasing ever since readings started being taken in 1984. And 85 per cent of the locations now have average readings of 60 decibels or greater over a 24-hour period. Normal conversation is at the 60 decibel level.
I am sure you know the World Health Organization has recently declared that noise is a serious world health issue. Also, I am sure you know that it is not the magnitude of the noise but the psychological effects of noise that have a greater impact on our health, like the effect of an uncontrollable dripping tap. I do wonder, though, if you performed a full cost-benefit analysis on this issue before forming your opinion.
KEN BURFORD
Toronto