2. CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Concept and Characteristics
3. Sources of Noise Pollution
4. Effects of Noise Pollution
5. Control of Noise Pollution
3. INTRODUCTION
The word noise comes from the Latin word noxia meaning "injury" or "hurt" . Noise
is an unwanted, unpleasant and annoying sound caused by vibration of the matter.
4. Noise Pollution
Disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human or
animal life. The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by
machines and transportation systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains.
5. Types (Sources) of Noise
There are 2 kinds of noise pollution-
A. Community Noise/ Environmental Noise (non industrial noise pollution).
• Air craft noise
• Roadway noise pollution
• Under water noise pollution
B. Occupational Noise(Industrial Noise Pollution)
7. Community Noise
Community noise (also called environmental noise, residential noise or domestic
noise) is defined as noise emitted from all sources, except at the industrial
workplace.
Main sources of community noise include road, rail and air traffic, construction and
public work, and the neighborhood.
8. Air Craft Noise Pollution
Noise from planes flying over residential areas impairs people's ability to work,
learn in school and sleep, and consequently also results in lowered property values
in affected areas.
9. Roadway Noise Pollution
Roadway noise is the collective sound energy emanating from motor vehicles.
It contributes more to environmental noise exposure than any other noise source,
and is constituted chiefly of engine, tire, aerodynamic and braking elements.
10.
11.
12. Under Water Noise Pollution
This is intense human-generated noise in the marine environment.
It is caused by use of explosives, oceanographic experiments, geophysical research,
underwater construction, ship traffic, intense active sonars and air guns used for
seismic surveys for oil and related activities.
13. Occupational Noise Pollution
The many and varied sources of noise is industrial machinery and processes
include: rotors, gears, turbulent fluid flow, impact processes, electrical machines,
internal combustion engines, pneumatic equipment, drilling, crushing, blasting,
pumps and compressors.
14.
15. Effects of Noise Pollution
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
The WHO recommends that unprotected exposure to sound levels greater
than 100 dB should be limited in duration (4 h) and frequency (four
times/yr).
The threshold for pain is usually given as 140 dB
Levels greater than 165 dB, even for a few milliseconds, are likely to cause
acute cochlear damage
16. Effects of Noise Pollution
IT DECREASES THE EFFICIENCY OF A MAN
Regarding the impact of noise on human efficiency there are number of
experiments which print out the fact that human efficiency increases with noise
reduction
. A study by in India suggested that reducing industrial booths could improve the
quality of their work.
. Noise can adversely affect performance, for example in reading, attentiveness,
problem solving and memory.
17. Effects of Noise Pollution
LACK OF CONCENTRATION
Noise causes lack of concentration. In big cities, mostly all the offices are
on main road.
The noise of traffic or the loud speakers of different types of horns divert
the attention of the people working in offices. Deficits in concentration can
lead to accidents.
18. Effects of Noise Pollution
ABORTION
There should be cool and calm atmosphere during the pregnancy. Unpleasant sounds
make a lady of irriative nature. Sudden Noise causes abortion in females.
MENTAL ILLNESS
Noise pollution may cause or contribute to the following adverse effects: anxiety, stress,
nervousness, nausea, headache, emotional instability, argumentativeness, sexual
impotence, changes in mood, increase in social conflicts, neurosis, hysteria, and
psychosis.
19. Effects of Noise Pollution
It Causes Heart Attack
Noise Pollution causes Increase in the rate of heart-beat, increased cholesterol level
and Constriction of blood vessels which leads to blood pressure that resulted in
heart attack.
Acute exposure to noise activates nervous and hormonal responses, leading to
temporary increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and vasoconstriction.
High levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenalin can
lead to hypertension, stroke, heart failure, and immune problems.
20. Effects of Noise Pollution
Temporary or permanent Deafness
Physicist, physicians & psychologists are of the view that continued exposure to
noise level above. 80 to 100 dB is unsafe, loud noise causes temporary or
permanent deafness.
Aggressive Behavior
Noise above 80 dB may increase aggressive behavior.
21. Effects of Noise Pollution
EFFECT ON ANIMALS
Noise can have a detrimental effect on animals by causing stress, increasing risk of
mortality by changing the delicate balance in predator/prey detection and
avoidance, and by interfering with their use of sounds in communication especially
in relation to reproduction and in navigation.
Noise also makes species communicate louder, which is called Lombard vocal
response. Scientists and researchers have conducted experiments that show
whales' song length is longer when submarine-detectors are on.
22. Effects of Noise Pollution
Sleep Interference
Very high levels of noise can wake people from their sleep with a jerk and keep
them awake or disturb their sleep pattern. This could make them irritable and tired
continuous noise in excess of 60 dB disturbs sleep.
Noise more than 100dB can cause problems such as partial deafness.
23. MEASUREMENT OF NOISE
A decibel is the standard for the measurement of noise.
20 dB is whisper.
40 dB the noise in a quiet office.
60 dB is normal conversation.
80 dB is the level at which sound becomes physically painful. And can
be termed as noise.
24. MEASUREMENT OF NOISE
Sound power level-
• Sound power or acoustic power is the rate at which sound energy is emitted,
reflected, transmitted or received, per unit time.
• Sound power level (Lw)-
25. MEASUREMENT OF NOISE
Sound intensity level-
• Sound intensity is defined as the sound power per unit area.
• Sound intensity level (LI)-
26. MEASUREMENT OF NOISE
Sound pressure level-
• Sound pressure or acoustic pressure is the local pressure deviation from the
ambient (average, or equilibrium) atmospheric pressure, caused by a sound wave.
• Sound pressure level (SPL) (Lp)-
27.
28. MEASUREMENT OF NOISE
To measure noise, the average pressure level of the sound is measured for a
particular amount of time by a weighting scale.
The gadgets used to measure noise are noise level meter, noise dosimeter and
impulse-sound level meter. Noise dosimeter can be worn by the person and works
better than noise level meter.
29. Noise Dosimeter
A noise dosimeter is a specialized sound level meter intended specifically to
measure the noise exposure of a person integrated over a period of time.
Dosimeters can function as personal or area noise
monitors.
Current dosimeters are designed to provide the
user with parameters such as noise dose, time-weighted
average, sound exposure level, as well as peak,
maximum, and minimum sound pressure levels.
30. Noise Level Meter
A noise level meter is used for measurement of sound that travels through air.
It is commonly a hand-held instrument with a microphone.
The diaphragm of the microphone responds to changes in
air pressure caused by sound waves.
31. AMBIENT NOISE MONITORING DATA OF 7 MAJOR CITIES IN THE OCCASION OF
DEEPAWALI
Source- cpcb.nic.in
32. Control of Noise Pollution
Noise generation is associated with most of our daily activities.
Due to the various adverse impacts of noise on humans and environment, noise
should be controlled.
I. Conduct a Noise Assessment
II. Take steps to prevent or control the risks
1. the extent of the noise reduction required
2. nature of the equipment used
3. the economy aspects of the available techniques
34. Noise Control at Source
The noise pollution can be controlled at the source of generation itself by employing
techniques like:
Reducing the noise levels from domestic sectors
Maintenance of automobiles
fitting silencers to exhausts
Prohibition on usage of loud speakers
using quieter pieces of equipment (or purchase new technology equipment)
Control over vibrations
35. Control in the transmission path
Installation of barriers
Installation of panels or enclosures
Green belt development
36. Using protection equipment
Protective equipment usage :after noise reduction at source
and/or after the diversion or engineered control of
transmission path
Noise cancellation generators for active noise control are a
relatively modern innovation: sound waves with opposite
polarity (180° phase at all frequencies) are output through a
speaker, causing destructive interference and cancelling
much of the noise.
37. Reducing exposure time
Job rotation
Refuges - noise-reduced enclosures for people
1. Noise refuges can be a practical solution in situations where noise control is very
difficult, or where only occasional attendance in noisy areas is necessary.
2. The design of refuges will be similar to that of acoustic enclosures, although since the
purpose is to keep noise out rather than in, lining the inner surfaces with acoustic
absorbent material will not be necessary.
38. Industrial and Urban planning
Factories Act, 1948 prescribes the protection of workers against high noise levels
(noise level > 90 dB (A)). The State Pollution Control Board and Inspector of
Factories have powers to administer the control of noise pollution.
The Noise Pollution (REGUATION AND CONTROL) Rules 2000
Area Noise Limits, dB (A)
Day Time Night Time
Silence zone 50 45
Residential area 55 45
Commercial
area
65 55
Industrial area 75 65
39. Noise Pollution and Noise Control Acts.
Prior to the 1987 amendments to the Air Act, 1981, the Act did not include in it the
regulation of noise pollution. But after the 1987 Amendments, noise has been
recognised as an air pollutant.
Can it be said that using of the loud speakers is the exercise of the religious
freedom enshrined under the Constitution of India ?
SC has held that no religion prescribed that prayers should be performed by
disturbing the peace of others (Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees life and
personal liberty to all persons.) nor does it preach that it should be through voice-
amplifiers or beating of drums . In the name of religion nobody can be permitted
to add to noise pollution or violate noise pollution norms. “…. discontinued or at
least regulated….”
40. Exceptions to noise pollution laws
Railways Act, 1890 and Noise Control.-railway locomotives enjoys a statutory
protection under the Indian than Railways Act, 1890 against any action for the
noise created thereby. There is no provision in the Act, which provides for the
regulation of noise by railway locomotives. Sec. 16 of the Act gives statutory
authority for the use of locomotives to railway administration.
Under the Indian Aircraft Act, 1934 causing wilful damage or injury is actionable.
Although there is no specific provision relating to control of noise pollution from
aircrafts. According to Aircraft Act, 1934 and Indian Aircrafts (Public Health) rules,
1946 Government can make rules to control noise pollution for safeguarding
health.
Noise restriction regulations and safety regulations are incorporated in the Aircrafts
Rules.
41. CONCLUSION
Whether knowingly or unknowingly, everyone of us contribute to noise pollution,
because most of our day-to-day activities generate some noise. Often neglected,
noise pollution adversely affects the human being leading to irritation, loss of
concentration, loss of hearing.
Identify the sources of noise pollution. Once identified, the reason(s) for increased
noise levels should be assessed, efforts shall be made to reduce the undesired
noise levels from (unwanted) noise generating sources.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Silence zone: Up to 100m around hospitals, educational institutions and courts. The zones are to be declared by competent authority. Use of vehicle horns, loud speakers and bursting of crackers shall be banned in these zones.
