Noise pollution can be defined as any unwanted or offensive sounds that unreasonably intrude into and disturb our daily lives
Measurement of Sound
The decibel(abbreviated dB) is the logarithmic scale used to measure the intensity of a sound.The zero dB is hearing threshold.On the decibel scale,0 dB is the smallest audible sound which is nearly about total silence.A sound 10 times more powerful than near total silence is 10 dB. and that 100 dB times more powerful is 20dB.
some common sounds with decibel rating
0 dB ------------>Near total silence
13 dB ----------->Human heart beat
15 dB------------> A whisper
40 dB------------> Typing
60 dB------------> Normal conversation
66 dB------------> Barking of dog
70 dB------------> Truck noise
90 dB ----------->A lawnmower
110 dB------------> A car horn
120 dB-------------> A jet engine
140 dB--------------> A fire cracker or gunshot
Causes of Noise Pollution
Noise pollution can be caused by:
1. Road traffic noise:Road traffic noise has become a major urban environmental problem because:
a.Historically land use planning has not been well integrated with transport,planning,allowing residential developments and major transport corridors to occur in close proximity without appropriate buffer zones or treatment to buildings.
b. There has been an increasing community dependence on road transportation,and an unwillingness to implement or accept partial solutions involving greater use of public transport.
c. Traffic on many existing roads through built up areas has increased well beyond expectations prevailing during planning or construction of the roadways.
2.Air traffic noise:
The extent of aircraft noise impact depends on the types of aircraft flown,the number of flights and flight paths.
The increase in number of flights,an important factor in overall noise levels,has led to an increase in general noise levels associated with air traffic.
3.Rail traffic noise:
Rail noise can be considerable,but generally affects a far smaller group of the pollution than road or aircraft noise as it is generally confined to residents living along rail lines in urban areas.
4.Domestic noise:
Domestic noise is any noise from residential areas such as a house,apartment,and flat.The noise from barking dogs and road traffic have the greatest impact on residential communities.
5.Construction noise:
Construction noise is defined as 'the noise created by the equipment at the construction sites for the fabrication,erection,modification,demolition,or removal of any structure or facility,including all related activities such as clearing of land,site preparation,excavation,cleanup, and landscaping.
Effects of Noise Pollution
1.Annoyance:A noise is said to be annoying if an exposed individual or a group of individuals would reduce the noise.avoid,or leave the noisy area if possible.Noise can cause annoyance and frustration as a result of interference,interruption and distraction.
2.Communication Interference:Noise pollution can have a considerable effects on communication.Noise can mask speech.Even when speech is accurately understood,background noise may result in greater pains for the talker as well as the listener.Many factors contribute to the effect of noise on communication interference.Some of them are:
a. Frequency of noise.
b. Speech content.
c. Speech intensity.
d. Closeness of the people.
e. Age of the people.
f. Location of the speech.
3. Danger to people:Noise can cover warning signals,causing accidents to occur and noise can hide shouts for help if a person is in danger.
4. Headache:Noise can cause increased number of headaches.
5. Heart disease:Noise causes stress and the body reacts with increased adrenaline,changes in heart rate,and a rise in blood pressure.
6.Mental depression:Continuous exposure to high noise level can result increased mental depression rates.
7. Sleep disruption:It is common knowledge that noise can disturb sleep.Several factors that cause sleep disturbances are:
a. Types of noise. d. Intensity of noise.
b. Repetition of noise. e. Health condition of the people.
c. Duration of noise f. Stage of sleep.
Control of Noise Pollution
Noise pollution can be effectively controlled by taking the following measures:
1. By providing ear protection aids to the people aids to the people working in noisy places.Ear-plugs.ear-muffs,noise helmets,headphones etc.may be used as ear protection aids in reducing the occupational exposure.
2. Designing,fabrication and using quieter machines to replace the noisy machines.
3. Providing proper lubrication to the machines.
4. Providing proper maintenance to the machines.
5. Providing sound proof chambers to the noisy machines.
6. Industrial zones,aerodromes and highways would be located outside the city limits.
7. Plants are efficient absorbers of noise,especially noise of high frequency.Planting of green trees on both sides of streets,hospitals,educational institutions etc.,can reduce the noise level effectively.
8. Minimum use of loud speakers.
9. Banning loud horns in automobiles.
10. Framing noise pollution act.
11. Creating public awareness about noise pollution and its effects through newspapers,radio and televisions.
a.Historically land use planning has not been well integrated with transport,planning,allowing residential developments and major transport corridors to occur in close proximity without appropriate buffer zones or treatment to buildings.
b. There has been an increasing community dependence on road transportation,and an unwillingness to implement or accept partial solutions involving greater use of public transport.
c. Traffic on many existing roads through built up areas has increased well beyond expectations prevailing during planning or construction of the roadways.
2.Air traffic noise:
The extent of aircraft noise impact depends on the types of aircraft flown,the number of flights and flight paths.
The increase in number of flights,an important factor in overall noise levels,has led to an increase in general noise levels associated with air traffic.
3.Rail traffic noise:
Rail noise can be considerable,but generally affects a far smaller group of the pollution than road or aircraft noise as it is generally confined to residents living along rail lines in urban areas.
4.Domestic noise:
Domestic noise is any noise from residential areas such as a house,apartment,and flat.The noise from barking dogs and road traffic have the greatest impact on residential communities.
5.Construction noise:
Construction noise is defined as 'the noise created by the equipment at the construction sites for the fabrication,erection,modification,demolition,or removal of any structure or facility,including all related activities such as clearing of land,site preparation,excavation,cleanup, and landscaping.
Effects of Noise Pollution
1.Annoyance:A noise is said to be annoying if an exposed individual or a group of individuals would reduce the noise.avoid,or leave the noisy area if possible.Noise can cause annoyance and frustration as a result of interference,interruption and distraction.
2.Communication Interference:Noise pollution can have a considerable effects on communication.Noise can mask speech.Even when speech is accurately understood,background noise may result in greater pains for the talker as well as the listener.Many factors contribute to the effect of noise on communication interference.Some of them are:
a. Frequency of noise.
b. Speech content.
c. Speech intensity.
d. Closeness of the people.
e. Age of the people.
f. Location of the speech.
3. Danger to people:Noise can cover warning signals,causing accidents to occur and noise can hide shouts for help if a person is in danger.
4. Headache:Noise can cause increased number of headaches.
5. Heart disease:Noise causes stress and the body reacts with increased adrenaline,changes in heart rate,and a rise in blood pressure.
6.Mental depression:Continuous exposure to high noise level can result increased mental depression rates.
7. Sleep disruption:It is common knowledge that noise can disturb sleep.Several factors that cause sleep disturbances are:
a. Types of noise. d. Intensity of noise.
b. Repetition of noise. e. Health condition of the people.
c. Duration of noise f. Stage of sleep.
Control of Noise Pollution
Noise pollution can be effectively controlled by taking the following measures:
1. By providing ear protection aids to the people aids to the people working in noisy places.Ear-plugs.ear-muffs,noise helmets,headphones etc.may be used as ear protection aids in reducing the occupational exposure.
2. Designing,fabrication and using quieter machines to replace the noisy machines.
3. Providing proper lubrication to the machines.
4. Providing proper maintenance to the machines.
5. Providing sound proof chambers to the noisy machines.
6. Industrial zones,aerodromes and highways would be located outside the city limits.
7. Plants are efficient absorbers of noise,especially noise of high frequency.Planting of green trees on both sides of streets,hospitals,educational institutions etc.,can reduce the noise level effectively.
8. Minimum use of loud speakers.
9. Banning loud horns in automobiles.
10. Framing noise pollution act.
11. Creating public awareness about noise pollution and its effects through newspapers,radio and televisions.
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