I’ve been concerned about environmental issues since high school, but I often find that more subtle or local issues get overlooked compared to the giant worldwide problem of climate change.

I also find that local environmental issues, such as fertilizer runoff, waste management and state park funding are much easier to act on. 

For example, the Save the Boundary Waters campaign has been doing a lot of work to prevent copper mining in the Boundary Waters, and many Boundary Waters campers are highly invested.

One of the issues I almost never hear about, is light pollution. Except for some pictures in National Geographic showing nighttime light maps, I don’t hear a lot of people talking about this.

Still, nighttime lights disrupt animal and human circadian rhythms and contribute to poor sleep quality. I’ve even read it may disrupt the menstrual cycle.

Probably the saddest thing about light pollution is not being able to see the stars very well. It’s crazy to think humans a couple hundred years ago could see the Milky Way any night whereas now we have to travel to see it properly.

This is an example of how something that causes environmental harm can also cause direct harm to mental health.

Even less talked about is noise pollution, which I think is causing the same amount of harm as many other environmental issues. 

As the world has industrialized, we have had to get used to more and more noise. Noise comes from industrial areas, construction, cars and the mechanics in our homes. 

I’m sure this noise causes disruption to many of the animals and even plants in our vicinity, but it harms us as well. 

Loud noise obviously hurts our ears, but can also affect mental health and contribute to more stress and strain. 

Studies have called a sensitivity to noise “misophonia” which is a disorder that hasn’t been researched much. 

While this disorder may be caused by other factors, I can’t help but theorize it may come from a natural reaction to an overly noisy and overstimulating world.

New technology like special noise-canceling earplugs or headphones may also reflect a desire to have a break from noise. 

What’s so confusing to me is the amount of completely optional noise that gets added in on the noise that already exists. 

One of the most annoying examples is the people who always rev their car engines or motorcycles to a deafening level for no reason. 

Music pumped into stores and restaurants is understandable, but sometimes overdone. I remember when my local Target started playing music and it felt very weird.

Studies have shown that playing music in stores makes people want to think less and buy more, so it only makes sense for a capitalist hellscape. 

However, the music played in coffee shops is always a pet peeve of mine. It’s usually loud and everyone puts in their own music anyway. In addition, people have to talk even louder to be heard over the music and milk-frothing machines.

Even when we do have silence, it’s likely we turn on the TV or another screen so we are listening to something. We’re so programmed to have noise we don’t know what to do with silence. 

Constant noise makes it hard to concentrate, and leaves no room to rest or even daydream. There’s a level of thought and deep reflection that I keep sidestepping the more I distract myself. 

One of my favorite quotes about noise comes from Carl Jung: 

“Noise protects us from painful reflection, it scatters anxious dreams, it assures us that we are all in the same boat and creating such a racket that nobody will dare to attack us. Noise is so insistent, so overwhelmingly real, that everything else becomes a pale phantom.”

It is the reason why I find reprieves in silent places like the Boundary Waters to be so important. I go there once a year and having even 5 days without my phone and constant noise is always worth it. 

However, I’m sure my life would feel a lot more peaceful if noise were restricted in my everyday life and not just on camping trips.

I’m not sure what will happen in our increasingly technological world but you will find me still hoping for more peace and quiet. 

Sonnek can be reached at [email protected]