Noise is a constant part of modern life. From busy streets and railways to aircraft traffic, environmental noise surrounds us daily. But how much do we really know about its impact on our health? The EXPOSIM project, part of the ExpoHealthNet cluster, invites everyone to explore this topic through its interactive SoundCheck Quiz, designed to raise awareness about noise pollution and its effects on human health. The quiz presents short questions based on recent data from European Environment Agency’s report “Environmental Noise in Europe 2025″, encouraging participants to test and expand their knowledge about environmental noise.
One of the quiz questions asks: How many Europeans are exposed to harmful transport noise every day?
The correct answer might surprise many people. According to the European Environment Agency’s Environmental Noise in Europe 2025 report, more than 20% of Europe’s population, approximately 112 million people, are exposed to long-term transport noise levels that exceed the thresholds defined by the Environmental Noise Directive (END). These exposures mainly come from road traffic, railways and aircraft noise, affecting everyday life across cities and regions in Europe.
The EXPOSIM project studies how environmental exposures, including transport noise, influence the human immune system across the lifespan. By investigating how different environmental stressors interact with immune health, EXPOSIM helps generate evidence that can support healthier urban planning, improved environmental policies and better protection for communities. Understanding the scale and impact of noise exposure is an important step toward creating quieter and healthier environments across Europe.
Interested in learning more?
Take the EXPOSIM SoundCheck Quiz and test your knowledge about noise pollution and health.
For more information on environmental noise in Europe, you can also consult the European Environment Agency’s report “Environmental Noise in Europe 2025”.