Q9.

Noise Pollution:

Major Sources of noise pollution seen in City of Pune:

1. Road Traffic Noise

2. Air Craft Noise

3. Noise from railroads: The noise from locomotive engines, horns and whistles, and switching and
shunting operation in rail yards can impact neighboring communities and railroad workers

4. Construction Noise: The noise from the construction of highways, city streets, and buildings is a
major contributor to the urban scene.

5. Noise in Industry

6. Noise in building: Apartment dwellers are often annoyed by noise in their homes, especially when
the building is not well designed and constructed.

7. Noise from Consumer products: 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.

Challenges at National level:

 At the national level, regulations limit the allowable sound levels produces by aircraft,
railway and roadway vehicles and certain heavy equipment. But. for example, almost
all aircraft in current operation don’t meet standards for runway takeoffs, landings,
and sidelines, which also depends on the aircraft's weight and its number of engines

Challenges at National/Local-Level(In my locality-Pune):

 Noise pollution impacts millions of people on a daily basis. The most common health
problem it causes is Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Exposure to loud noise can also
cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress. These health
problems can affect all age groups, especially children.

 Emissions standards have a number of shortcomings: emissions standards are not

global for they are unavailable for many types of machines; and they may not apply
to equipment already in use.

 Furthermore, emissions standards do not address the problem of cumulative

emissions. This means that while an individual vehicle may be quiet, the growth and
spread of traffic of air, road, and rail traffic have offset vehicle-focused technological
improvements.

 For example, emissions standards for new highway and railway construction and
operation typically allow small incremental increases in noise levels.  Overtime, these
permitted incremental increases become significant and health adverse.
  Experience with noise regulation in developed areas do not demonstrate significant
improvements in exposure to environmental noise especially road traffic noise.

Control Measures: There are 4 fundamental ways in which noise can be controlled:

(1) Reduce noise at the source: Make sure that all openings are acoustically sealed. Noise reduction
can be done by using rigid sealed enclosures around machinery lined with acoustic absorbing
material. Isolating machines and their enclosures from the floor using special spring mounts or
absorbent mounts and pads Establishing lower speed limits for highways that pass through
residential areas, limiting traffic volume and providing alternative routes for truck traffic are effective
noise control measures.

(2) block the path of noise: Through construction of temporary/permanent barriers:

a. Planting of trees around houses can also act as effective noise barriers.

b. Highly absorptive interior finish material for walls, ceilings and floors can decrease indoor noise
levels significantly.

(3) increase the path length : Increasing distance from the noise source and the recipient offers a
passive means of control:

a. Municipal land- use ordinances pertaining to the location of airports make use of the attenuating
effect of distance on sound levels.

(4) protect the recipient.: Use of earplugs and earmuffs. Specially designed earmuffs can reduce the
sound level reaching the eardrum by as much as 40 dB.

Steps which can be taken for the abatement of noise pollution:

1) There should be Legislation, Educating and bringing awareness in the people is common for
control of any pollution Example: Ban on loud speakers from 10 pm to 6 pm.

2) Avoid very noisy leisure activities, opt for alternatives means of transport such as bicycles or
electric vehicles over taking the car, do your housework at recommended times, insulate homes with
noise-absorbing materials, etc. Educating the younger generation is also an essential aspect of
environmental education.

3) State and local governments can apply ability to regulate land development to prevent
noise-sensitive land uses from being located adjacent to noisy source and to ensure
developments are planned, designed, and constructed to minimize noise impacts and protect
occupants.

4) States and cities should have stringent building codes for new homes, hotels, schools,
and hospitals requiring acoustical analysis and insulation to protect building occupants from
exterior noise sources and sound generated within the building itself.

5) Cities should have laws, which prohibit sound above a certain threshold level from
trespassing over property line.
6) Cities should limit noisy activities such as the operation of domestic power tools or
gasoline-powered lawn equipment in residential areas to certain times of the day.

Q10. The challenges posed by our nation in controlling the water borne diseases
such as dengue and zika:

 Key contributing factors to the nationwide resurgence of dengue in the last few
decades include the rise in number and size of densely populated urban cities that
are conducive for the spread of the disease and the adaptation and proliferation of
dengue vectors, particularly the primary carrier of dengue virus, Aedes aegypti.
Furthermore, increased global travel has facilitated the spread of the virus. The
resultant increase in transmission of the viruses has brought about genetic expansion
of virus, providing ample opportunities for successful selections of viral variants of
high epidemic potential or virulence.

 Dengue vaccine is not available, and its development is hindered by the lack of
suitable animal models and the requirement for a robust tetravalent vaccine that
covers all four serotypes of dengue. Unfortunately, the extensive and often
indiscriminate use of insecticides has resulted in a global pandemic of insecticide
resistance.
 Vector control is currently the only means of checking dengue transmission, but it faces
several challenges, such as insecticide resistance, toxicity concerns and biosafety issues,
community acceptance of certain measures and sustainability.
 Despite recent heightened awareness for dengue prevention, various challenges still exist.
These include inadequate funding and resources and the lack of a sound strategy to
respond to the increasing problem of dengue outbreaks in a growing number of
geographical areas.
 Non-availability of antiviral drugs or vaccines to combat the rapid viral spread, threat of
worldwide spread of the “Brazilian” strain of the virus after the 2016 Olympics in Brazil,
prevention of mosquito bites and zika virus infections especially in women of the
reproductive age, and filling the gaps in knowledge about the virus vectors and reservoirs,
and the pathogenesis.
 Currently, efforts are focused on preventing primary infections particularly in women
tending to become pregnant. Several knowledge gaps and “rumors” exist about the zika
virus especially with respect to its vectors and reservoirs, the pathogenesis of the associated
complications, and potential effects of co-infection with other circulating viruses and
chemicals.

• Efficient control of the mosquitos has been a big challenge.

• Disordered urban growth and environment, pollution of rivers and ditches, and stagnant water
around household provide sites for the breeding and dissemination of mosquitos.

Remedies to combat the spread of Dengue & Zika Virus on a Nationwide-Level:

  To mitigate the spread and impact of the zika virus, scientists must fill the critical
gaps in the vector control and elimination.
 Clinicians and other health scientists worldwide must be empowered to respond to
zika virus outbreaks as the world did in the HIV/AIDS and Ebola virus.
 Antiviral drugs and vaccines must be developed fast to combat the anticipated
explosive spread.
 The best prevention of zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites, and this can
be done at personal, community and government levels.

 Ensure the water is visibly clean and free from sand and silt. Filter the water to get
rid of visible dirt.
 Drink only clean and safe water – either portable water or water filtered through
water purifiers.
 Get water purifying devices like filters, RO unit, etc., regularly serviced and
maintained.
 There is no vaccine to protect against the Zika virus. We can take steps to reduce
your risk of exposure to the virus.
 Zika infection can be prevented by using mosquito repellents, mosquito nets, cooling
rooms by air conditions and wearing full sleeves or permethrin-treated clothes. The
current outbreak of Zika has not only affected the health care but also caused great
economic loss.
 Personal protection measures include wearing clothing (preferably light-coloured) that
covers as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as window
screens and closed doors and windows; and applying insect repellent to skin or
clothing that contains DEET, IR3535 or icaridin according to the product label
instructions.
 Aedes mosquitoes breed in small collections of water around homes, schools, and
work sites. It is important to eliminate these mosquito breeding sites.

If any couple is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, these tips may help lower their risk of
Zika virus infection:

 Plan travel carefully. It is recommended that all pregnant women avoid traveling to
areas where there is an outbreak of the Zika virus.
 Practice safe sex. If you have a partner who lives in or has traveled to an area
where there is an outbreak of the Zika virus, it is recommended to abstain from sex
during pregnancy or using a condom during all sexual activity.

If someone living in or traveling to areas where the Zika virus is known to be, these steps
shall be taken to reduce their risk of mosquito bites:
 Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing. The mosquitoes that carry the
Zika virus are most active from dawn to dusk, but they can also bite at night.
Consider sleeping under a mosquito bed net, especially if you are outside.
 Wear protective clothing. When you go into mosquito-infested areas, wear a long-
sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and shoes.
 Use insect repellent. You can apply permethrin to your clothing, shoes, camping
gear and bed netting. You can also buy clothing made with permethrin already in it.
For your skin, use a repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or one of the other
active ingredients registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and known to
be effective against mosquitoes. When used as directed, these repellents are proven
safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
 Reduce mosquito habitat. The mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus usually live in
and around houses and breed in standing water that has collected in containers
such as animal dishes, flower pots and used automobile tires. At least once a week,
empty any sources of standing water to help lower mosquito populations.