Letters: Train noise endangers health, quality of life

So Anne Ducate from Elgin finds the excessive Columbia train noise “comforting” (“Train whistles make Columbia safe,” May 15). I can’t believe there are fans of urban noise.

For decades, health studies have shown that prolonged exposure to noise pollution increases the risk of cardiac problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Noise levels are increasing in Columbia due to the increasing numbers of trains, emergency vehicles, racing motorcycles and leaf blowers. Thousands of large oaks that were planted along streets for flood and noise control last century have been removed. Columbia is much noisier than similar size cities such as Charleston, where stricter noise ordinances are in place.

While urban noise may not be a problem for Ms. Ducate in Elgin, it reduces the quality of life for downtown Columbia residents. The city should address this problem with improved noise ordinances and by protecting large trees.