12 June 2014
Bilbao Campus
In the text published by El País entitled “Acoustic pollution and its effects on personal rights”, Prof. Blanco notes that “the environment is one of the few legal assets that the Spanish Constitution expressly mentions as fully protected by law".
Blanco argues that “The social value the environment has acquired forms part of the set of values commonly accepted by our society”.
This lecturer from the UD Law Faculty also underscores the fact that penal law even specifies liability for protection of the environment and cites Article 45 of the Constitution which states that "penal, or if applicable, administrative sanctions should be established” for persons whose behaviour constitutes an environmental offence”.
Blanco also bases his argument on "the Constitutional Tribunal ruling 119/2001 of 26 May” which stated: “Noise may become a key psychopathogenic factor in our society and a permanent source of disturbance of citizens’ quality of life”.
He further supports his thesis with the "World Health Organisation guidelines on environmental noise" which, he points out: ”underline the effects of prolonged exposure to high noise levels on persons’ health (i.e. hearing impairments, speaking comprehension difficulties, sleep disorders, neurosis, high blood pressure and ischemia) as well as on their social behaviour (particularly less solidary behaviour and an increase in aggressive tendencies)".
