Sound pollution: a source of social health inequality for people living near fixed and intermittent sources of pollution in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This article relies on a Poisson modelling framework to examine the impact of constant and intermittent sound pollution on social health inequalities in Burkina Faso from the angle of hearing impairments. Using a random sample of 838 people in 200 household living nearby the international airport of Ouagadougou, and the National Electricity Company's (SONABEL) thermal power plants, the empirical results show that noise intensity is a significant determinant of hearing loss and a source of environmental inequity. In fact, constant exposure to high-intensity noise doubles the probability of developing hearing loss compared to temporary exposure. Consequently, to protect themselves, people tend to choose areas less exposed to noise but relatively more expensive, and hence supporting Charles Tiebout's theory of voting by the feet. The results also points out the problems of poor urban planning in developing countries, and suggest that prevention and promotion policies targeting the poorest are possible ways of reducing social health inequalities.