Ericson M. Scorsim . Lawyer and Consultant in Public Law. PhD in Law from USP (University of São Paulo), author of the e-books “Right to Cities Free from Noise Pollution” and “Healthy and Sustainable Condominiums, Free from Excessive Noise and Environmental Noise Pollution “, co-founder of the Associação Civil Monitor Ambiental Antirruídos.
Noise pollution from buses, with their combustion engines used in urban passenger transport, is one of the factors contributing to sleep deprivation for those living in buildings located on streets where buses circulate.
The right to sleep is a vital need of the human body.
Sleep deprivation is harmful to the health.
Sleep deprivation is harmful to well-being.
According to scientific studies, the brain needs to maintain adequate conditions for restorative sleep.
Even when unconscious of noise, the brain is impacted by noise.
According to the World Health Organization, noise levels above 50 dB (A) – fifty decibels – are a factor in damaging health.
For traffic and transportation, the WHO recommends a noise limit of 53 dB (A) – fifty-three decibels – for the day and 45 dB(A) – forty-five decibels – for the night.
Now, the right to sleep is a right derived from the right to life.
The right to sleep is a right stemming from the right to physical and psychological integrity.
The right to sleep is a right derived from the right to human dignity.
Furthermore, the right to sleep stems from the right to health and the right to human well-being.
Clearly, noise pollution from buses with combustion engines is also an infringement on property rights.
The State of Paraná approved Law No. 22,830, of November 27, 2025 , which provides for the promotion of the right to clean, healthy, and sustainable cities, free from noise pollution. This law contains the principles of acoustic environmental eco-efficiency and sound environmental sustainability. Furthermore, this law provides for the control of noise emissions in accordance with the parameters of the World Health Organization.
In short, the right to sleep is a fundamental right that must be protected against noise pollution caused by buses with combustion engines. It is the right of every citizen to have clean, healthy, and sustainable transportation, free from noise pollution.
To learn more about the activities of the Anti-Noise Environmental Monitor Civil Association, visit the website: https://antirruidos.wordpress.com/ , subscribe to the YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@associacao.antirruidos and access the social network X: https://x.com/antirruidos .
