"The government lacks clear regulations," said Dr Suchitra Prasansuk, director of the Otology Centre at Siriraj Hospital.

Suchitra said the business-first mentality meant more housing estates being built near the new airport despite the hazard of permanent ear damage as a result of long-term exposure to noise pollution with more flights per minute than Don Muang Airport currently handles.

"In Osaka they built an airport far away from the city," she said.

Jet-engine sound often reaches 120 decibels while the normal acceptable level is 70.

Most susceptible are schools in the airport's vicinity. Suchitra said that aside from ear damage, long exposure to loud noise from the airport could lead to children in the area developing aggressive behaviour. She said some 20 per cent of students in urban schools next to major roads developed hearing impairment.

"Many don't have their ears examined, and if they're not functioning well they conclude that that's just the way it is," Suchitra pointed out. "People know nothing and think nothing about it. If you can't hear well for five to seven days [and do not seek treatment] you could ended up developing permanent damage."

Suchitra said one way of tackling the issue was to install noise-measurement boards at the new airport and other major traffic spots to warn people of the dangerous level of noise.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation