(ii) Occupational noise

(iii) Neighbourhood noise.

Environmental Pollution 75
Transport Noise
Transport noise can be further sub-divided into (i) Road traffic
noise, (ii) Aircraft noise and (iii) Rail traffic noise.
Road Traffic Noise: Traffic noise is increasing over the
years with increase in the number of road vehicles. Traffic
speed is the major cause of noise. The noise volume is
enhanced with increase in traffic speed. Modern highways
and traffic system encourage higher speeds.
In general, on urban roads there are distinct traffic peaks
in the morning and evening (10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) as people
travel to and fro workplaces. Heavy diesel-engined trucks
are the noisiest vehicles on roads at present. The permissible
noise levels for cities prescribed by the Central
Pollution Control Board of India are shown in Table 3.2.
These limits are, however, violated in all big cities in India,
Calcutta being the worst case. The average noise levels in
busy streets in Calcutta during rush hours (between 10:3012:00 hrs and 18:00-19:30 hrs.) are 90 dB. People live in an
environment of noise generated by blasting horns, rumbling
tyres and screeching brakes. Awful road accidents contribute
to the misery.
Table 3.2: Permissible noise levels (cities)
Areas Day Night
Industrial 75 dB 65 dB
Commercial 65 dB 55 dB
Residential 50 dB 45 dB
Sensitive areas up to 100 m 50 dB 40 dB
around hospitals, schools
Aircraft Noise: The noise levels have peak values when
aircraft fly low and overhead or take off and land at airports.
The noise limits prescribed by UK airports for take-offs are
110 PNdB (1 PNdB = dB scale+13) during day and 102
PNdB during night. These may be compared with the values
in USA: 112 PNdB during day at New York.
76 Environment and Ecology
Rail Traffic: It is less of a nuisance as compared to the
previous types of traffic noise.
Occupational Noise : Industrial workers are exposed to
noisy working environment for 48 hours a week (8 hrs. a
day for 6 days a week). Some typical occupational noise levels
are given in Table 3.3.
Millions of workers suffer from progressive hearing
damage and become prone to accidents under their working
conditions. Their working efficiency is also affected.
Neighbourhood Noise: Loud TV and radio sets, loud
cassettes, loudspeakers in public functions, disco music, etc.
are sources of neighbourhood noise, which disturb and irritate
the general public and also harm the patients.
Table 3.3: Occupational noise levels
Industrial source Noise level (dB)
Steel-plate riveting 130
Oxygen torch 126
Boilers shop 120
Textile loom 112