There have been an increasing number of complaints and lawsuits about noise pollution in Beijing, something that indicates a growing awareness of environmentally friendly living in the capital.

The city's authorities are dealing with more than 4,000 complaints about noise pollution. And the level of noise in an area is now considered an indicator of people's comfort.

"I'm distracted every morning by the newspaper seller downstairs," said Li Guang, a Beijing resident.

Because of the noise, Li is woken up every morning at about 6 am.

More and more residents have lodged complaints to the local Environment Protection Bureau about noise pollution.

Noise from shops and markets, loud music from audio and video sellers and even the howls of pets can all be considered noise pollution.

"Complaints about noise pollution are increasing every year," said an official with the bureau.

He said that among the current 11,000 complaints received by his bureau, 40 percent were about noise pollution.

Noise pollution is a threat to modern civilization, said Shen Mengpei, a deputy to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, who has been keeping a close watch on this issue for a number of years.

He said people's awareness of noise pollution is rising. The issue was the focus on the third Session of the 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress at its annual session last month.

This year, proposals on restricting noise submitted by deputies to the congress, the capital city's legislature, doubled from last year.

Just days before the congress, 147 households from Shijingshan District jointly lodged a complaint to the bureau about loud noise from nearby shops, karaoke bars and bus stops.

Liu Zhihe, an expert with the Beijing Vibration and Acoustic Materials Key Lab, said noise had long been ignored as a form of pollutant, while more attention has been paid to treating sewage, air pollution and general rubbish.

"Unpleasant sounds can easily trigger neural and cardiovascular illnesses," Liu said.

People can become nervous and anxious, and have low working efficiency because of noise pollution, he added.

Liu also pointed out that the money needed to curb urban noise is far less than that which goes on air, sewage and urban rubbish treatment.

Zhai Xiaohui, an official with the bureau, told China Daily that his organization is drafting a revised regulation about noise control.

(China Daily February 24, 2005)