AN AWARENESS ON NOISE POLLUTION AMONG HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS OF KOTTAYAM

Ashitha Mary N J
B.Ed. Student (Physical Science)
Mount Carmel College of Teacher Education for Women, Kottayam

ABSTRACT
The present article entitled “An Awareness on Noise Pollution Among High School Students of
Kottayam” is based on a survey carried out with the objective to assess the awareness on noise
pollution among high school students of Kottayam. A sample of 50, VIII standard students of
Mount Carmel GHSS in Kottayam district was selected for the study. The data was collected using
a questionnaire prepared by the investigator. The major findings of the study indicate that most of
the students were aware of noise pollution and health hazards of noise pollution. The students
should be empowered to take action to reduce noise pollution.

INTRODUCTION
Pollution is the contamination of Earth’s environment with materials that interfere with human
health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of ecosystem. It is an unwelcome concentration
of substances that are beyond the environment’s capacity to handle which then became detrimental
to people and other living things pollution is mostly caused by human activities although some
environmental pollution is a result of natural causes

Sound which is an integral part of our life has a great impact on the environment. Unusual sound
can disturb any human beings, birds and animals and their activities. Sound is a necessity within
its usage limits. Any undesirable sound is called as noise pollution. Though noise is a controllable
entity of the environment, on several occasions it’s found to be uncontrollable and create several
impacts on life.
Noise or sound pollution is usually not studied compared with other forms of pollution. The reason
is that the adverse effects of other forms of pollution on humans are more pronounced. But actually,
the propagation of noise can cause harmful impact on physiological and psychological lives of
human or animals. It is only after getting a proper knowledge about noise pollution, its ill effects,
prevailing rules and regulations for the control of noise etc., one will take proper control measures
for the abalement of noise pollution. This study investigates the level of awareness about noise
pollution among high school students. To take proper measures for the control of noise pollution,
the coming generation should possess proper awareness. Hence the investigator decides to carry
out a survey on “Awareness on Noise Pollution Among High School Students of Kottayam.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 To investigate the level of awareness on noise pollution among high school students

of Kottayam.

 To inculcate adequate knowledge on the health hazards caused due to noise pollution.
 To provide awareness on the rules and regulations regarding noise pollution.
 To enable the students to review the impact of noise pollution and to equip them with
proper measures that can be adopted to tackle the problem.
 To make the students aware about the various sources of noise pollution.

METHODOLOGY

The study was carried out using the survey method of investigation. A questionnaire containing
21 questions were prepared. The questionnaire was to check the awareness of students on Noise
Pollution, its causes, remedial measures. The questionnaire was prepared after a thorough analysis
of the chapter ‘Sound’ from the Basic Science textbook (SCERT) of standard VIII. The
questionnaire was administered in the classroom. The data collected was analyzed and interpreted
to reach the conclusions.
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

This study aimed to acquire a greater understanding of the awareness of high school students of
Kottayam regarding the noise pollution. The study revealed that about 90% of the students are
aware of noise pollution. 64% of the students are aware about the health hazards of noise pollution
but still 36% of them are not aware of the effects of noise pollution on human health. The pie
diagram showing percentage of students aware of the effects of noise pollution on human health
is given in figure 1.

Figure 1: Pie diagram showing percentage of students aware of the effects of noise pollution on
human health.

Among 50 respondents 96% of students raised the issue of noise pollution in the classroom. 78%
of students have heard about noise pollution in their school subjects. The pie diagram showing
percentage of students who raised the issue of noise pollution in the classroom is given in figure 2

Figure 2: Pie diagram showing percentage of students who raised the issue of noise pollution in
the classroom.
The findings of the survey revealed that 80% of students have difficulty in performing task at
home/school due to excessive noise. The pie diagram showing the percentage of students who face
difficulty in performing task at home/school due to excessive noise is given in figure 3.

Figure 3: Pie chart showing percentage of students who faced difficulty in performing task at
home/school due to excessive noise.

About 86% of students do something to avoid noise at home and 30 % of students make noise
capable of disturbing their neighbors.

It was revealed that 24% of students got ear infections due to exposure to excessive noise. Almost
94% of students have been close to fireworks gunshots or explosions. The study also revealed that
98% of students think that loud noises or loud music can damage one’s hearing. 88% of them think
that earphones and headphones are injurious to our health but still 12% of students are not aware
of it. All students know that sound of great intensity may affect pregnant ladies, new born babies
and heart patients. The survey revealed that only 42% of students know that use of air horns in
vehicles is prohibited by law while 58% students are not aware of it. 54% of students are aware of
devices that is used to protect human ears from loud noise while 46% of them are unaware of it.

The survey showed that 58% of students know that box type loudspeakers must be used in place
of horn type loudspeakers. While 42% of them don’t know about it. About 68% students don’t
know that trees can reduce loudness of sound by absorbing sound energy while 74% of them know
that loudspeakers should not be used in public places before 6am and after 10pm.
From the survey it was clear that 60% of students are not aware of the fact that sounds above 50dB
is prohibited in the premises of hospitals and educational institutions. 96% of students have seen
noise control instructions put up in roads, near school, hospitals and courts.

The results showed that 84% of the students know that continuous audition of high pitch sounds
cause hearing impairment, damage of nervous system and even deafness.

Almost 66% of students know that excessive sound will cause sudden increase in blood pressure
and heartbeat. The pie diagram showing percentage of students who know that excessive sound
will cause sudden increase in blood pressure and heartbeat is given in figure 4.

Figure 4: Pie chart showing percentage of students who know that excessive sound will cause
sudden increase in blood pressure and heartbeat.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

The prevalence of noise is increasing in magnitude and severity because of urban life style. The
increased level of noise pollution in the environment have made it an urgent need to create
awareness about the causes, effects and prevention of noise pollution. 90% of students are aware
of noise pollution. 64% of students are aware about the health hazards of noise pollution. From the
survey it was clear that 80% of students have difficulty in performing task at home/school due to
excessive noise. 66% of students know that excessive sound will cause sudden increase in blood
pressure and heartbeat. 84% of students know that continuous audition of high pitch sounds causes
hearing impairment, damage of nervous system and even deafness. 60% of students are not aware
of the fact that sounds above 50dB is prohibited in the premises of hospitals and educational
institutions. 96% of students have seen noise control instructions put up in roads near schools,
hospital and courts. We can reduce noise pollution by turning off appliances when not in use, use
of ear plugs, lowering the volume, planting more trees, regular maintenance of vehicles and
machines etc. by controlling noise we can control negative health effects that noise pollution has
on everyone.

REFERENCES

1. Geravandi.S et.al (2018) ‘Noise pollution and health effects’

2. Shadrach Turde Akinkuade, Kola Wole Fasae (2015). ‘A survey of noise pollution in Ado-
Ekiti metropolis using mobile phone’
3. M.D Shamsui Rahman (2016). ‘Status of noise pollution: A case study on industries,
hospitals and bus stations in Gazipur city corporation’
4. Gupta et.al (2018) ‘Noise pollution and its impact on children health’
5. Ashwin Thames et.al (2021) ‘Noise pollution has nonauditory long term consequences’
6. SCERT Basic Science Textbook, Standard 8
7. https://www.slideshare.net
8. https://www.environmentalpollution.in