Noise pollution in the extravagant Gulf city of Dubai has been revealed by a new study to be a major concern for the Generation Z as many of them consider it an important factor troubling their well-being. Notably, Buro Happold’s Urban C:Labs in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University in Dubai conducted the study. It will be presented at the Inter-Noise 2024 conference in Nantes, France, reported Khaleej Times .
Pooja Ganatra, who is a senior sustainability consultant, noise specialist and lecturer at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, led the study along with Gregory Maltsev and Kathy Wong, who are consultants based in Dubai and Hong Kong. As the study’s demographic is extensively aware about mental health dilemmas as well as the environmental aspects influencing them, the research has been deemed particularly relevant. For the research, students at the university took part in noise-mapping exercises and surveys assessing their sleep quality and mental health.
Moreover, they also provided important details into how urban noise pollution is affecting their daily lives. “The findings revealed that nearly 70% of Dubai’s Generation Z population identified noise pollution as a significant factor influencing their wellness, with 37% rating it as a top concern. Our study highlighted frequent symptoms among participants, such as stress, tiredness, and difficulty concentrating, indicating a strong link between noise exposure and mental health issues," said Ganatra.
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