Index

INTRODUCTION 1-2
Types of Noise Pollution 2
SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION 3-4
Effects of noise pollution 5-7
• Auditory effects
• Non auditory effects
Prevention and control of noise 7-8
pollution
Raise awareness about noise pollution 8-9

Bibliography 10
 Noise Pollution

INTRODUCTION

The word noise is derived from the Latin word ‘Nausea', which means
sickness in which one feels the need to vomit. Noise is the unpleasant and
undesirable sound which leads to discomfort in human beings.

The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB). The faintest sound that
the human ear can hear is 1 Db.

DEFINITION

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 (dB) 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.

Noise has two measurable properties:

1. Frequency- The normal, human audio-frequency range (audible range) varies

from 20-20000 Hz. Below 20 Hz are infra- audible (infrasonic) and above
20000 Hz are called ultrasonic (ultrasound). 2. Intensity-The loudness of sound
is measured in "Decibels (dB)".

2. Intensity-The loudness of sound is measured in "Decibels (dB)".

Whispering 20-30dB
 Normal conversation 60-65dB
Street traffic 60-80dB
shouting About 100dB
Motor car horn,train,aeroplain About 150 dB
Jet plane About 150dB

Types of Noise Pollution

Following are the three types of pollution:

• Transport Noise
• Neighbourhood Noise
• Industrial Noise

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.

Neighbourhood Noise

The noise from gadgets, household utensils etc. Some of the main sources are
musical instruments, transistors, loudspeakers, etc.

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%.

SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution like other pollutants is also a by- product of industrialization,
urbanizations and modern civilization. Broadly speaking, the noise pollution has
two sources, ie. industrial and non- industrial.

The industrial source includes the noise from various industries and big
machines working at a very high speed and high noise intensity.

Non- industrial source of noise includes the noise created by transport/vehicular

traffic and the neighborhood noise generated by various noise pollution can also
be divided in the categories, namely, natural and manmade.

Most leading noise sources will fall into the following categories: roads traffic,
aircraft, railroads, construction, industry, noise in buildings, and consumer
products

1. Transport noise,

2. Occupational noise,

3. Neighbourhood noise

4.Consumer Products noise

1) Transport Noise

Noise arising due to different types of transportation is called transport noise.

This can be subdivided into-

a. Road Traffic Noise:

Vehicles on road produce irritation for more people than any other noise source.
This is because of steady increase in the number of road vehicles and
consequently increases of road traffic density.

b. Aircraft Noise:
It differs from road traffic noise in the sense that it is not continuous but
intermittent. There are peak noise levels when aircraft fly overhead and land at
the airport.

c. Rail Traffic Noise:

The intensity of rail traffic noise is much lower than any other traffic noise.
Usually all railway tracks run through rural areas and so the exposure of rail
traffic noise is minimum.

2) Occupational noise:

This is mainly produced by industrial machines and processes which affects

millions of people. It also includes noise from domestic articles, Le. washing
machines, vacuum cleaners and on. Industrial workers are exposed to noise
minimum of 8 hours per day and 6 days per week.

3) Neighbourhood noise:

There are a variety of sources such as, television, radio, DVD players and so on,
which disturbs and annoys the general public

4) Consumer Products noise:

Certain household equipment, such as vacuum cleaners and some kitchen

appliances have been and continue to be noisemakers, although their
contribution to the daily noise dose is usually not very large.

Effects of noise pollution

Noise pollution can trigger the body's stress response, one of its major health
effects is chronic stress and the high levels of stress hormones that go with it.
As a result, noise pollution has also been linked with health problems such as
heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. It's also been linked with
musculoskeletal problems.
Auditory effects

1) Auditory fatigue: - Appears in 90 dB region and greatest at 4000 Hz

frequency: may be associated with effects like whistling and buzzing in the ears.

2) Deafness:- Occurs at a frequency ranging between 4000 Hz. May lead to

temporary or permanent deafness.

• Temporary deafness: results from a specific exposure to noise.

Disability disappears after a period of time up to 24 hours following the
noise exposure.

• Permanent deafness: may be resulted by repeated or continues exposure

to noise around 100 dB. Deafness occurring due to occupation in
industries occupational deafness. Exposure to noise above 160 dB -
rupture the tympanic membrane & cause permanent deafness.

3) Inner ear damage:- may vary from minor changes in the hair cell endings to
complete destruction of organ of corti.

Non auditory effects

1) Interference with speech: Most disturbance in speech is caused at 300-500

Hz range commonly present in noise produced in road & air traffic.

• For good speech, intelligibility speech sound level must exceed the SIL
(Speech interference level) approx. 12 Db.
2) Annoyance: primarily a psychological response. Neurotic people are more
sensitive to noise than balanced people.

3) Efficacy : where ever mental concentration is required, silence or a low level

of noise is required. Reduction in noise - increases work output.

4) Psychological changes : Temporary psychological changes occur in our

body as a direct result of noise pollution Hypertension, increased intracranial
pressure, increased heart rate, increased breathing, Increased sweating.

5) Cardiovascular health - CV effects & expc to moderately high levels during

a single 8 hour period causes a statistical rise in BP of 5-10 mm of hg.

• Stress & vasoconstriction leads to the increases BP & increased incidence

of coronary artery disease.

6) General symptoms:

• Giddiness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Interference with sleep
• Visual disturbance constriction of pupil, affect colour perception &
reduced night vision.

7) Economic loss: Causes reduced work output & noise induced hearing loss.
Prevention and control of noise pollution

1) Careful planning of cities

• Division of city into zones with separation of area concerned with

industry& transport.
• Separation of residential areas from the main streets with green belts.
• House fronts should lie not less than 15 mts from road & the intervening
space should thickly planted with trees.

2) Control of vehicles

• Heavy vehicles should not be routed into narrow streets.

• Reduce vehicular traffic on residential streets.
• Prohibit blowing of horn & use of pressure horn.

3) Industries & railways

• Special areas must be earmarked outside residential areas, for industries,

for railways & similar installations.
• When these demands cant be met, protective green belts must be laid
down between installation & residential area.

4) Protection of exposed persons

• Recommendations of hearing protection for all workers who are

consistently exposed to noise louder than 85db in the frequency bands
above 150Hz.
• Regularly rotate workers from noisy area to comparatively quiet posts in
factories.
• Go for periodical audiogram check-ups.
 • Use ear plugs, ear muffs when ever situation demands.

Raise awareness about noise pollution

• Create, collect, and distribute information and resources regarding noise

pollution
• Strengthen laws and governmental efforts to control noise pollution
• Establish networks among environmental, professional, medical,
governmental, and activist groups working on noise pollution issues
• Assist activists working against noise pollution
• Reduce noise exposure by honking less while driving
• Installing dual-paned windows
• Switching off the TV and not keep it constantly running
• According to The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules,
2000, a loudspeaker or a public address system shall not be used except
after obtaining written permission from the authority and the same shall
not be used at night i.e. between 10.00p.m. and 6.00 a.m.
• The noise level at the boundary of the public place, where loudspeaker or
public address system or any other noise source is being used shall not
exceed 10 dB (A) above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 dB
(A) whichever is lower.
• The peripheral noise level of privately owned sound system shall not
exceed by more than 5 dB (A) than the ambient noise standard specified
for the area in which it is used, at the boundary of the private place.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Book Author Publication

स्वस्थवृत ववज्ञान Dr. वनवि गुप्ता चौखंबा पवलिके शन (2019)

स्वास्थवृत्त सुिा Dr. काशीनाथ समगडं ी आयुवेद संस्कृ त पुस्तक भंडार

(2021)
स्वस्थवृत्त Dr. सवेश कुमार चौखबं ा प्रकाशन