EUROPA > Summaries of EU legislation > Environment > Noise pollution
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Noise above a certain volume threshold (from 60 Ldn dB(A) according to the European Environment Agency) affects not only wellbeing, but also the health of citizens. On top of the corrective measures applicable to some sources of noise, in 2002 the European Union adopted a Directive setting out a Community approach to the management and evaluation of ambient noise in order to protect public health.