b" noise pollutionA journey from artist to noise expertErica Walker was pursuing a career as an artist when noisy neighbors on the floor Erica Walkerabove her Noise Pollution Expert apartment led to a dramatic switch. Shes now Dr. Erica Walker, still an artist but also an expert on the study of noise pollution and its effectsDr. Walker didnt always want to studyWalker. That stress response is the on people. noise pollution. She planned to be ansame kind of response that you would Dr. Walker is an assistant professorartist. But her parents never wantedhave if you were walking in a dark of epidemiology at Brown Universityher to be an artist. They encouragedalleyway and out jumps a ferocious her to study math and science. Sodog trying to chase you. and the creator of the Communityshe did, but she still started out after Noise Lab, where she conducts hergraduation as an artistuntil thatAlong with mental health impacts, Dr. studies. She recently spoke aboutnoisy apartment made her curiousWalker says very loud sounds can lead noise and noise pollution with Eastabout whether the noise was affectingto hearing loss. Recent statistics arent Norriton Bulldog Bulletin reporters. her health. available, but a report in 1980 said nearly a third of the U.S. population According to Dr. Walker, noiseDr. Walker earned a doctorate inwas exposed to harmful noise levels.pollution is unwanted sound,public health and has done a lot of sounds that we process as harmful orwork over the years investigatingToday, Dr. Walker says, that figure stressful, such as car horns blaring orthe effects of noise on health. Inis probably higher. For kids and barking dogs.2018, she founded the Communityteens, she says, the biggest danger Noise Lab. This group looks at healthto hearing loss is playing personal Noise pollution isnt good for ourdevices too loud. You may like hearing and our physical and mentalaspects of community noise, from carwatching or playing your video games health, she says. Imagine someonehorns to fireworks or gunshots.at really high levels, she says. You coming into your community andIm just trying to think of so manymay not think that its noise, but those playing sounds you dont like at levelsissues that we see, says Dr. Walker.kinds you find annoying. Imagine havingShe says its important to study them very little ability to find peace. It's likebecause noise pollution affects our when you blast your headphones atmental and physical health.full volume, she says.It's stressful to be She contrasts unwanted noise withwaking up in the middle sounds we like to hear. We like toof the night when you're hear our friends at lunch. We like totrying to get a really nice listen to our favorite music. We likesleep. And because you're trying to watch our favorite television, Dr.to figure out what that Walker says. So those are soundsnoise was, that can also that we enjoy. be stressful, says Dr. Page 12 illustrations: Daniel Fuller, 8th grade, East Norriton Bulldog Bulletin (trumpet) | Vivian Retano, 8th grade, East Norriton Bulldog Bulletin (speaker)12B Y K I D S , F O R K I D S | F a l l 2 0 2 5"