Researchers studying Dublin, Ireland found noise pollution may have improved from March to May 2020 due to COVID-19 lock downs. 
- Average noise levels at all 12 noise monitoring stations decreased 
- Hourly average noise levels decreased, often falling below 55 dB 
- Nighttime average noise levels dropped as low as 50 dB
- Notably, these changes were not gradual, but rather appeared suddenly in correlation with the start of lock downs 

Kenyon College

Noise pollution occurs when loud sounds accumulate to the point of being potentially harmful. Generally, noise levels are considered appropriate when: 
- nighttime noises are 5-10 dB lower than daytime noises 
- noises do not exceed 85 dB for long periods of time 
- noises generally remain below 60 dB
- residential areas have noise levels between 45-55 dB

Noise Pollution (Post-COVID-19)

Basu, B., Murphy, E., Molter, A., Sarkar Basu, A., Sannigrahi, S., Belmonte, M., & Pilla, F. (2020). Effect of COVID-19 on Noise Pollution Change in Dublin, Ireland. ArXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.08993v1 

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