What’s too loud?

The History of calculating noise in

order to protect the environment
 What is Noise Pollution?

Noise pollution refers to unwanted

sound produced by human activities
What is Noise Pollution?
 Noise pollution is any unwanted sound
that can cause damage to living
organisms especially humans either
physiologically or psychologically and
disturb normal living condition, rest or
sleep.
Sound and Noise!
 Physically there is no distinction
between sound and noise. Sound is a
sensory perception and the complex
pattern of sound waves is labeled as
noise, music, speech etc. Noise has
become a very important "stress factor"
in the environment of man.
 Sound is having constant pitch and we
like to listen to it while Noise is having
varying pitch and one do not like to
listent to it.
 Unit of sound is Hz (cycle/sec) while unit
of noise is dB(decibels).
The nature of sound
Sound, a manifestation of vibration, travels in wave patterns through
solids, liquids and gases.
The waves, caused by vibration of the molecules, follow sine functions,
typified by the amplitude and wavelength (or frequency)

Sound waves of equal

amplitude with increasing
frequency from top to
bottom
How sound is produced?
Amplitude and wavelength (period)
Sound and human hearing
People generally hear sounds
between the “threshold of hearing”
and the “threshold of pain”

In terms of pressure,
this is 20 μPa – 100 Pa

The decibel scale was developed from this fact

and makes numbers more manageable

The decibel scale generally ranges from

approximately 0 to 130
How Sound is Heard
 Human hearing and Frequency

0 16 Hz 20 kHz 5 MHz
Measurement of Noise Pollution
Unit Bel is derived from the Name of great Alexander
Greham Bell who invented telephone.

Decibel Reading
Bels and decibels
Sound power and intensity
Sound pressure level
Sound pressure for known sounds
Sound and human hearing – Frequency
Humans are less sensitive to low frequency
sound and more sensitive to high frequency
sound. Therefore, sometimes the dB scale is
adjusted to take this into account:

A-weighting (db(A)): adjusts overall scale so it

better matches what the human ear would hear

C-weighting (dB(C)): adjusts scale for loud or

low frequency sounds

B-weighting (dB(B)): adjusts by factors that are

“in between” the A-weighted factors and C-
weighted factors (rarely used)
 How sound is measured
•Pressure, P, usually Pascals

•Frequency, f, usually Hertz P = 1/f

•Intensity, I, usually W/m2 I = W/A

•Bels, L’, derived from logarithmic ratio L’ = log (Q/Qo)

•Decibels, L, derived from bels L = 10*log (Q/Qo)
E.g. Implications of the decibel scale: doubling sound level
would mean that the sound will increase by 10*log2 = +3dB
Ten times the sound level = 10*log10 = +10dB
1. Microphone 3. Decibel Meter

2. Calibrator
 Noise Measurement

Equivalent noise level quantifies the

noise environment as a single value of
sound level for a desired duration. This
relates directly to the effects of noise
pollution on human beings.

𝟏
𝑳𝒆𝒒 = 𝟏𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈[( ) න(𝒑𝒂/𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒇)^𝟐 𝒅𝒕 ]
𝑻
Noise pollution does not stay in the environment for long such as other
pollutants but has many negative effects on the environment
Types of Noise Pollution
Domestic Noise

Commercial Noise

Transportation Noise
Transportation Noise

Railway Noise

Vehicle Noise

Aircraft Noise
 Effects of Noise of the
Environment
On Humans:
• deafness
•Cardiovascular diseases
•High blood pressure
•Ulcers
•Heart Disease
•Irritability
On Animals:
•Increase of death by
altering the prey/predator
detection and avoidance
•Creates problems in their
use of sounds in
reproduction and
navigation
Effect Of Noise Pollution On
Humans
 1. Chronic exposure to noise may
cause noise-induced hearing loss.
Older males exposed to significant
occupational noise demonstrate
significantly reduced hearing
sensitivity than their non-exposed
peers.
 2. Unwanted noise can damage
physiological and psychological health.
Noise pollution can cause annoyance
and aggression, hypertension, high
stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss,
sleep disturbances, and other harmful
effects.
 3. High noise levels can contribute to
cardiovascular effects and exposure to
moderately high levels during a single
eight hour period causes a statistical
rise in blood pressure of five to ten
points and an increase in stress and
vasoconstriction leading to the
increased blood pressure noted above as
well as to increased incidence of
coronary artery disease..
 Introduction of the commercial jet
created an increasing amount of
pressure to implement noise control
laws and systems.
 Noise Control Strategy

> Planting bushes and trees in and around

sound generating sources is an effective
solution for noise pollution.
> Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles
can effectively reduce the noise pollution.
> Buildings can be designed with suitable noise
absorbing material for the walls, windows, and
ceilings.
 Noise Control Strategy

> Workers should be provided with equipment's

such as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing
protection .

> Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the

machinery and servicing should be done to
minimize noise generation.
> Soundproof doors and windows can be
installed to block unwanted noise from outside.
 Noise Control Strategy

> Workers should be provided with equipment's

such as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing
protection .

> Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the

machinery and servicing should be done to
minimize noise generation.
> Soundproof doors and windows can be
installed to block unwanted noise from outside.
 Noise Control Strategy

> Regulations should be imposed to restrict the

usage of play loudspeakers in crowded areas and
public places.
> Factories and industries should be located far
from the residential areas

>Community development or urban management

should be done with long-term planning, along
with an aim to reduce noise pollution>
 Noise Control Strategy

> Social awareness programs should be

taken up to educate the public about the
causes and effects of noise pollution.
Noise Laws
The END