Lärm als Umweltrisiko

Facing the growing usage of air traffic and motorized private transport in Germany traffic noise is of increasing relevance. The present work analyzes this problem in reference to several sociological topics: social inequality, health and protesting behavior. Concerning social inequality in the distribution of traffic noise the classical topic of Environmental Justice – well known in the US - is being transferred into a German speaking context. Using quantitative-empirical Analyses disadvantages of low income households as well as citizens with an immigration background concerning the exposure to traffic noise are examined. Using further empirical analyses the author demonstrates the relation between traffic noise and health and also analyzes the important question of the driving factors of environmental protests. Is it people who are personally affected by the environmental hazard traffic noise who protest or are general environmental concerns the driving factor of protest?