Silence in the Sound: Impacts of Sound Exposure in Greenville, South Carolina

The known environmental and health concerns have always been air, water, and dirt. Over time, human settlement introduced sound, impacting the environment and those within it. Transportation and daily interactions have continued to contribute to generated noise that is now an ever-present force. With urban planning grounded in health, safety, and well-being, the impact of sound on public health remains under recognized. This research explores the relationship between sound, health, and residential land use, with a focus on Greenville, South Carolina. This study seeks to address the gap between these variables by investigating whether elevated sound levels are present in residential land uses and how they might contribute to health disparities. The key findings of this research show the impact of exposure to noise. In Greenville, residential neighborhoods situated near Pleasantburg Drive generate the loudest noise levels between 4-5pm ET. This is concerning because most residents are likely at home during this time, meaning they are being impacted by the greatest noise exposure. There was no strong variance found between high- and low-income neighborhoods. This suggests that setbacks, vegetation, and landscaping normally found more frequently in high-income neighborhoods are not mitigating noise. Lastly, the greatest finding was the proximity to the highway. The closer to Pleasantburg Drive, the louder the noise generated. From these results, recommended mitigation strategies are provided, along with the encouragement for further research.