Letters in response to: Turn down the volume, please, Sept. 16 How loud is too loud for a busy city? Readers complain about the ever-increasing background noise in Toronto, including the menace of leaf blowers and lawn mowers, oversized car mufflers, too-loud sound tracks in restaurants, and music from outdoor concerts that spills into residential neighbourhoods. (Image: Dreamstime). I read that Mayor John Tory was considering a ban or a way to reduce and eliminate unaccept

The Toronto Star September 16 editorial eloquently reflects the Toronto Noise Coalition’s position that the City must address excessive noise issues. Among other points it notes: • “It turns out (no surprise) that constant exposure to loud motorcycles, blaring loudspeakers in cars, back-up warning beepers on trucks and all the other din in a city can cause hearing loss, cognitive impairment, heart disease and strokes, not to mention stress and depression.” • “Still, f

Research has focused on noise as an auditory stressor that can produce both direct and indirect health effects. Read the article: Noise and your Health (PDF)

Mayor John Tory is revving up the fight against noisy nuisances on Toronto streets according to the September 3 Toronto Star article, Tory takes aim at noisy motorcycles on Toronto streets. He has requested that the City’s licensing and standards chief look at excessive noise from cars and motorcycles in the review of Toronto’s noise bylaw. He also states that “Even in a busy city there have to be limits and ways to enforce them,” Tory wrote. “As one resident recently said t