“Say No to Noise”

Noise is defined as sound without value or any sound that is

undesirable by the recipient. In other words, noise can be
defined as wrong sound, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Noise pollution, thus, refers to the unwanted sound dumped

into the atmosphere leading to health hazards. Noise is a
physical form of pollution and has no persistent effects on the
life-supporting systems but it has direct effects on the
recipients.

Sound and noise are two confusing words but can be understood with difference.
Sound, which pleases a listener, is music and that which causes pain and
annoyance is noise.
Sound is a form of energy which moves by alternately contracting and expanding
parts of the medium it is travelling through. There are three categories of sound:
one is of frequencies below 20Hz, called as infrasonic, as human ear cannot
detect these waves, second is of frequencies between 20Hz to 20 kHz, called as
audible or sonic waves, human ear responds to these waves and third is of
frequency above 20 kHz, ultrasonic, human ear cannot respond to these waves
e.g. whistles, sirens, mechanical vibrations, electromagnetic transducers etc.
Intensity and Loudness of Sound:
The intensity of a sound at a place is defined as the energy per second flowing
through unit area normal to the direction of propagation of sound. The SI unit of
intensity is watts per square meter (W/m2). The intensity of a sound waves of a
given frequency is proportional to the square of its amplitude of vibration and it
decreases as the square of the distance from the source. To calculate the intensity
level in bels, we have to find the ratio of the intensity of sound to the threshold
intensity.
Number of bels =log10 (I2/I!) .
One tenth of a bel is called decibel (dB). Number of decibels =10log10 (I2/I1).The
intensity of a source is its intensity, relative to some zero or reference intensity
level. If the reference level has an intensity of Io, then the sound of intensity I has
an intensity level, 10log (𝑙/𝑙𝑜) dB.
The lowest audible sound at a frequency of 1000 Hz, called the threshold of
hearing, corresponds to an intensity lo of 10-12 W/m2. This is chosen as the zero of
sound intensity level.
The Loudness of a sound is a sensation hence it is difficult to measure because it
depends upon observer. The greater the intensity, greater is the loudness.
Sources of Noise Pollution:
The most leading sources of noise pollution are:
i. Road Traffic Noise: The main sources of traffic noise in cities are two
wheelers and four wheelers specially trucks and buses. Narrow streets
and tall buildings add more to traffic noise.
ii. Air Craft Noise: The problem of low flying military aircraft has added a
new dimension to noise annoyance.
iii. Noise from Railroads: The noise from rail engines, horns and whistles,
can produce high level of 120 dB at a distance of 100 feet, which
 translates to levels as high as 140dB at the railroad affecting passenger
and railway worker’s ear.
iv. Construction Noise: Nowadays urban scenes have contributed much to
noise. The noise from the construction of highways, city streets and
building which includes bulldozers, loaders and dump trucks are major
contributor to pollution.
v. Noise in Industry: The industry noise sources have significant impact on
industrial workers among whom noise induced hearing loss is
unfortunately common.

Effect of Noise Pollution on Human Health:

Noise pollution creates a number of physical and mental ailments in beings. Noise
pollution or sound pollution may lead to human health hazards such as:
I. Fatigue of the hearing sense organs.
II. Hearing problems, deafness.
III. Annoyance, Tiredness and exhaustion.
IV. Physiological losses.
Noise Abatement:
The Noise Control Act of 1972 establishes a national policy to promote an
environment free from noise that affects health and welfare. The Act also serves to
1. Establish a means for effect coordination of Federal Research and activities in
noise control,
2. Authorize the establishment of Federal noise emission standards for products
distributed in commerce, and
3. Provide information to the public respecting the noise emission and noise
reduction characteristics of such products.
Measures to control noise pollution:
Noise pollution has become a serious environmental problem like all other
pollutions. The following measures can be taken to effectively control noise
pollution:
i). Control at receiver’s end: ear-protection aids, headphones etc. must be
provided to reduce occupational exposure.
ii). Suppression of Noise at Source: It can be made possible by fabricating less
noisy machines, maintenance and its proper lubrication, use of sound proof
chambers for machine installation, use of proper silencers in automobiles etc.
iii). Acoustic Zoning: Noise pollution can be minimized to a greater extends by
zoning noisy industrial areas, bus terminals, railways stations, aerodromes etc.,
away from residential areas. Silence zone boards must be displayed near
Educational institutions, hospitals etc.
iv). Planting of trees: Leaves of some plants can absorb noise to a great level so
planting such plants and shrubs along road side, hospitals, educational institutions
etc. help in noise reduction.