Iraq is facing an escalating public health threat posed by noise pollution, environmental officials warned Thursday, urging immediate nationwide efforts to curb rising sound levels.

Samim Salam, head of the Al-Furat Environmental Center, identified to Shafaq News many sources of noise pollution in Iraq, including transportation (cars, trucks, motorcycles), industrial activities (factories, heavy machinery), construction work (drilling and demolition), aviation (helicopters and jet engines), and even domestic appliances such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines.

Quoting guidelines from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Salam noted that acceptable noise levels range from 30–40 decibels in educational institutions, 40–60 dB in residential areas, and above 60 dB in industrial zones—with many Iraqi environments exceeding these limits, putting people at risk.