Noise Pollution a Silent Killer

Not all sound is considered noise pollution. The World Health Organization
(WHO) defines noise above 65 decibels (dB) as noise pollution. To be precise, noise
becomes harmful when it exceeds 75 decibels and is painful above 120 dB. As a
consequence, it is recommended noise levels be kept below 65 dB during the day and
indicates that restful sleep is impossible with nighttime ambient noise levels in excess of
30 dB. Like air pollution, noise pollution is far from a mere nuisance. It is increasingly
recognized to have long-term effects on human mental and physical health. Defined as
unwanted, prolonged, and high-level sounds, it can seriously harm our mental and
physical well-being.
Types of Noise Pollution
Following are the three types of pollution:
 Transport Noise - It mainly consists of traffic noise which has increased in recent
years with the increase in the number of vehicles. The increase in noise pollution
leads to deafening of older people, headache, hypertension, etc. As a growing
body of research reveals, transport noise can cause sleep disturbance,
cardiovascular disease, elevated hormone levels, psychological problems and
even premature death; studies on children have identified cognitive impairment,
worsened behaviour and diminished quality of life.
 Neighbourhood Noise - The noise from gadgets, household utensils etc. Some of
the main sources are musical instruments, transistors, loudspeakers, etc. Noise
from domestic premises or public places includes noise which is produced in
domestic premises by sources such as television sets, air-conditioners or dogs,
and noise produced in public places by sources such as radios, hawkers or
loudspeakers.
 Industrial Noise - It is the high-intensity sound which is caused by heavy
industrial machines. According to many researches, industrial noise pollution
damages the hearing ability to around 20%.
Causes and Sources of Noise Pollution
Following are the causes and sources of noise pollution:
 Industrialisation: Industrialisation has led to an increase in noise pollution as the
use of heavy machinery such as generators, mills, huge exhaust fans are used,
resulting in the production of unwanted noise.
 Vehicles: Increased number of vehicles on the roads are the second reason for
noise pollution.
 Events: Weddings, public gatherings involve loudspeakers to play music resulting
in the production of unwanted noise in the neighbourhood.
 Construction sites: Mining, construction of buildings, etc add to the noise
pollution.
 Effects of noise pollution on wildlife
Noise pollution also impacts the health and well-being of wildlife. Studies have
shown that loud noises can cause caterpillars' dorsal vessels (the insect
equivalent of a heart) to beat faster, and cause bluebirds to have fewer chicks.
Animals use sound for a variety of reasons, including to navigate, find food,
attract mates, and avoid predators. Noise pollution makes it difficult for them to
accomplish these tasks, which affects their ability survive.
Noise pollution negatively impacts biodiversity on land and in aquatic habitats.
On land, noise pollution interferes with the calls of many animal species,
particularly birds. This impacts their ability to communicate for navigation,
helping their flocks find food and breeding.
Effects of Noise Pollution Marine Life
Our oceans are no longer quiet. Thousands of oil drills, sonars, seismic survey
devices, coastal recreational watercraft and shipping vessels are now populating our
waters, and that is a serious cause of noise pollution for marine life. Whales are among
the most affected, as their hearing helps them orient themselves, feed and
communicate. Noise pollution thus interferes with cetaceans’ (whales and dolphins)
feeding habits, reproductive patterns and migration routes, and can even cause
hemorrhage and death. Other than marine life, land animals are also affected by noise
pollution in the form of traffic, firecrackers etc., and birds are especially affected by the
increased air traffic.
Unwanted sound, or noise, can have a large impact on the marine environment,
because noise can blanket a very large area, potentially preventing fish or whales from
hearing their prey or predators, finding their way, or connecting with mates, group
members, or their young.

Prevention of Noise Pollution

Some noise pollution preventive measures are provided in the points below.
 Honking in public places like teaching institutes, hospitals, etc. should be
banned.
 In commercial, hospital, and industrial buildings, adequate soundproof
systems should be installed.
 Musical instruments’ sound should be controlled to desirable limits.
 Dense tree cover is useful in noise pollution prevention.
 Explosives should not be used in forest, mountainous and mining areas.
The future of noise pollution
By 2100, 84 percent of the world's estimated 10.8 billion people will likely live in cities.
That means noise pollution will bloom in those areas and beyond, in surrounding
suburbs and rural spaces that were typically safe havens from the clamor of the city.
It’s impossible to overstate how much noise pollution can wreak havoc on human health
and safety. High noise levels can exacerbate hypertension, cause insomnia or sleep
disturbances, result in hearing loss, and worsen a plethora of other medical conditions.
All of these problems can aggravate other health issues by inducing higher levels of
stress, which can cascade into worsened immune systems, heart problems, increased
anxiety and depression — the list just goes on and on.
Many people don’t realise noise pollution is an important problem, impacting human
health, including theirs. Of course, there are many more premature deaths associated
with air pollution than for noise. However, noise seems to have a larger impact on
indicators related to quality of life and mental health. In fact, according to some World
Health Organization (WHO) findings, noise is the second largest environmental cause of
health problems, just after the impact of air pollution (particulate matter).
Humans aren’t the only species suffering from the racket. Urban and suburban noise
can easily escape from peopled areas into nature, causing problems for animal
populations, especially those that live close to highways or busy harbors. Noise
pollution can make it harder for animals to avoid predators (or for predators to find and
catch prey), reproduce, and live healthy lives.

Where is most of this noise coming from?

Traffic is the biggest contributor to noise pollution. A diesel truck at 50 feet away, for
instance, generates up to 90 decibels of noise. Generally speaking, prolonged exposure
to anything over 85 decibels puts someone at risk for temporary or permanent hearing
loss. But noise pollution is more than just automobiles. Increased development — in the
big city or in a quaint suburb — means construction sites, where heavy machinery
creates a fitful, ugly noise that can echo into the placid surrounding areas. People living
close to train tracks or airports are bludgeoned with noise (and usually accompanying
vibrations and shakes) at all hours. Air traffic can be a major headache. All these factors
are exacerbated by city planning and community zoning, which fail to mitigate noise for
residents.

Solution to Noise Pollution

International bodies like the WHO agree that awareness of noise pollution is essential to
beat this invisible enemy. For example: avoid very noisy leisure activities, opt for
alternatives means of transport such as bicycles or electric vehicles over taking the car,
do your housework at recommended times, insulate homes with noise-absorbing
materials, etc. Educating the younger generation is also an essential aspect of
environmental education.

Governments can also take measures to ensure correct noise management and reduce
noise pollution. For example: protecting certain areas — parts of the countryside, areas
of natural interest, city parks, etc. — from noise, establishing regulations that include
preventive and corrective measures — mandatory separation between residential zones
and sources of noise like airports, fines for exceeding noise limits, etc. —, installing
noise insulation in new buildings, creating pedestrian areas where traffic is only allowed
to enter to offload goods at certain times, replacing traditional asphalt with more efficient
options that can reduce traffic noise by up to 3 dB, among others.

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