Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape ManagementPublication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:Abstract. Now, it is normally agreed that noise barriers -shields with appropriate devices on the top edge -limit the diffraction of sound waves more effectively than the usual shields of the equal or in some cases even greater height. These barriers are referred to as "edge-modified" noise shields. The article describes acoustic field researches that estimate the impact of the slope of the upper edge of the noise barrier on the effectiveness of shielding from environmental noise. The article was drafted on the basis of methodical recommendations presented in the standard ISO 11821: 1997 "Acoustics -Measurement of the in situ sound attenuation of a removable screen". While altering the slope angle, respectively to 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°, different noise barriers were formed: "L90" (slope angle 90°), "J120", "J150" (slope angles 120° and 150°), and the usual "straight type" (slope angle 180°). The impact made by the form of the noise barrier on the spread of noise in the noise suppression area was observed at the areas of low (100-315 Hz) and high (2000-5000 Hz) frequency. The most effective form of a barrier in reducing the diffraction of low frequency sound waves was "J120", whereas high frequency sound waves were most effectively reduced using a usual straight noise barrier.