Construction works disrupt routine and stress residents in São Paulo

Since 2022, ‘I sleep with noise and wake up with noise,’ says Helder Sampedro, 39. Just over three years ago, he, his brother, and two dogs had their peace disrupted. A 25-story residential building started being constructed practically wall-to-wall behind the house where they have lived for 15 years in Brás, central region of São Paulo. ‘When I moved here, I was calm for ten years. Now, I will have a hundred people living literally on top of my head.’ Just like Helder, neighbors of dozens of works launched in São Paulo will face an exhausting routine of noise and dust caused by the construction of new buildings in the next two or three years. The city of São Paulo has 1,855 active developments, of which 1,003 are under construction, according to a survey by Brain Inteligência Estratégica. In the first semester of 2025, 61,1 thousand apartments were launched in the city of São Paulo. The neighborhoods Campo Grande (4,215), Vila Mariana (3,881), and Lapa (3,315) lead the list, according to a survey by Secovi-SP (Union of Housing of the State of São Paulo). In Brás, where the brothers live, 725 units were launched in this period. ‘It seems that the citizen has become a hostage of these constructions and there is no longer any place you go to that doesn’t have noise, dirt, trouble, discomfort,’ says Jaison Sampedro, 41, Helder’s brother. ‘It is almost as if they kidnapped you and placed you in private imprisonment, being tortured all day with construction noise. It’s a terrible situation.’ The brothers say that the constant dirt forced them to increase the frequency of cleanings, a daily hassle, as well as feel the physical effects of dust, such as dry skin. Luciano Gregório, an ENT doctor at the Einstein Israelite Hospital, says that construction dust can cause or aggravate allergic rhinitis, with uncomfortable symptoms and an increased risk of other respiratory diseases. ‘The dust from construction materials, such as cement, plaster, and wood, because they have a different pH, are considered a foreign body. When they enter through the airways, they end up triggering an inflammation, which can cause allergic or irritative reactions, with symptoms like stuffy nose, itching, nasal irritation, and frequent sneezing,’ he explains. The ENT doctor warns of the auditory risk due to continuous exposure to loud noises, which can also worsen balance problems and labyrinthitis. These noises damage mainly the sensory cells of the inner ear, which are responsible for picking up sound frequencies and transmitting information to the brain. As a result, the perception of high-pitched sounds begins to be affected, characterizing NIHL (noise-induced hearing loss). Besides the physical impacts, daily coexistence with the construction brought a mental strain to the Sampedro brothers. Over the years, the construction routine was religious, from Monday to Saturday. ‘The employees arrive around 6:30 am and already start using noisy tools, and they continue until around 6 pm. Around 11 pm, midnight, the trucks arrive to remove the rubble and the dumpsters,’ says Helder. The dogs, Mutreta, 11, and Capote, 8, also felt the impact: they became more anxious and nervous. ‘They were not ones to destroy things, hardly ever bit something. But when the works started, their behavior changed,’ says Helder. Elton Kanomata, a psychiatrist at Einstein, explains that prolonged exposure to loud and constant noises, such as those generated by large works, increases stress levels, irritability, and anxiety, causing mood, behavior, and cognition changes, with impacts on interpersonal relationships. ‘Some signs that may indicate mental health impairment are discouragement, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, insomnia, and a feeling of physical and mental exhaustion. In addition, there are physical symptoms, such as frequent headaches, tension and muscle pains, gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, changes in bowel habits, hair loss, brittle nails, reduced immunity, among many other signs resulting from stress,’ explains Kanomata. According to the doctor, even with the works stopping at night, sleep continues to be compromised by accumulated stress. This can lead to disorders such as depression and anxiety, creating a cycle that hinders treatment. To protect the health of those who live or work near works, the ENT doctor recommends washing the nose with saline solution daily, to calm the mucosa and eliminate irritating particles. The use of FFP2 or FFP3 masks is indicated to block the dust present in the environment. Also, it is important to use ear protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs, to reduce noise exposure, especially at bedtime. ‘By following these guidelines, it is possible to prevent up to 80% of the most common respiratory and auditory problems resulting from this exposure,’ says Gregório. Faced with symptoms such as stress, anxiety, irritability, or sleep difficulties, the psychiatrist recommends that residents seek professional counseling with psychologists or psychiatrists.