RADIATION AND NOISE POLLUTIONS

Radiation Pollution

1. Introduction

The radioactive pollution is defined as the physical pollution of living organisms and their environment as
a result of release of radioactive substances into the environment during nuclear explosions and testing of
nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon production and decommissioning, mining of radioactive ores, handling
and disposal of radioactive waste, and accidents at nuclear power plants.

2. Sources or Causes

Nuclear Accidents from Nuclear Energy Generation Plants

In the postmodern world, various forms of energy are being discovered. Among them is nuclear energy,
which is touted to be the most potent source of energy due to its high latent power. Reports indicate that
the high latent power is due to its high level of radiation. Its use is, therefore, prohibited, but research is
underway to determine its environmental safety and to put in place the most appropriate precautionary
measures for its use. In some cases and countries, however, nuclear power plant accidents like the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011), Chernobyl disaster (1986), and Three Mile Island accident
(1979) left many dead and even many more affected by the radiation released.

The Use of Nuclear Weapons as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

The use of nuclear missiles and atomic bombs, a form of nuclear energy, in the Second World War
explains not only the cause but also the damaging nature of radioactive pollution or contamination. The
effects of those two strikes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that prompted the end of the war in 1945 have
been seen to date with children born with complications such as mental retardation as well as conditions
like autism and other disorders. The number of cancer cases present in the two towns is more than those
of the rest of Japan.

Use of Radioisotopes
Radioisotopes are used to make detectors and in other industrial activities. Isotopes such as uranium have
high concentrations of radiation in them. On the other hand, common Isotopes such as carbon-containing
radioactive material are easily found in waterways through sewage lines. Since most of the raw sewage is
untreated before release, once released, the isotope combines with other compounds and elements present
in water. This is the same water that people fetch for domestic use. Moreover, fishes use the same water
to survive. Consumption of these fishes and from contaminated water sources means the potential intake
of radiation.

Mining
Mining mostly involves the excavation of the mineral ores, which are then broken into smaller,
manageable pieces. Radium and Uranium, for instance, are naturally occurring in the environment and are
equally radioactive.

Hence, mining increases the natural geological processes by moving these materials from underneath the
earth to the surface. Other minerals with a hint of radiation are thorium, plutonium, radon, potassium,
carbon and phosphorus.

Spillage of Radioactive Chemicals

There have been instances of spillages over oceans when ships hit glaciers or coral reefs and end up
releasing chemicals on waterways and in the atmosphere. The majority of these chemicals, including
petroleum products, have a significant level of radiation, which can be detrimental to the environment.

Tests on Radiation
Radiation has been seen to have a lot of interesting properties, which has promoted a lot of scientists to
conduct tests to learn more about it. It is one of the key elements in the cure and treatment of cancer.
Chemotherapy, a cancer curative health initiative, uses radiation to prevent further growth of the cancer
cells as well as keep the immune system strong. Despite this, scientists have been exposed to radiation
leading to their deaths or other complications.

Cosmic Rays and Other Natural Sources

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These come from the outer space to our planet with intense radiation as their nature, therefore, causing
radioactive pollution. Gamma rays, for example, are said to have the highest level of radiation and yet,
depending on their intensity, some are not visible to the human eye. The quantity with which the rays hit
the earth depends on the altitude of the earth and the geographical location. There may be terrestrial
radiations from radioactive elements present in the earth’s crust. These radioactive elements include
potassium 40, radium 224, radon 222, thorium 232, uranium 235, uranium 238, and carbon 14 and occur
in rocks, soil and water.

Nuclear Waste Handling and Disposal

The radioactive wastes are of three categories- high level, low level and transuranic. They mainly
comprise of the disposal from nuclear weapons, the cleaning materials from nuclear plants, military
installations, emitted from plutonium processing and other radioisotopes from hospitals and laboratories.
The handling and disposal of nuclear waste may generate low to medium radiation over a long period of
time. Their effects are not only hard to predict but may not be easily distinguishable as the radioactivity
may contaminate and propagate through air, water, and soil as well. Moreover, identifying locations of
some nuclear waste is not easy.

Defensive Weapon Production

The production of defensive weapons that may release radioactivity from the radioactive materials
handled usually have high health risks. However, the current standards will not allow the release of any
significant amount of radiation unless an accident occurs.

3. Effects

Genetic Mutations
Radiation has adverse effects when it comes to genetics. It leads to damage to DNA strands leading to the
genetic break up over time. The degree of genetic mutation leading to changes in DNA composition
varies due to the level of radiation one has been exposed to and the kind of exposure. The resulting
mutation makes one highly susceptible to cancer. For pregnant women, kids born have adverse defects
caused by genetic mutations like low weight during birth. Effects such as disfigured births and
impairment like blindness in children have also been reported. Infertility has also been mentioned as an
effect of radiation.

Diseases
Cancer is the most dominant radiation-related disease. It has developed over the years and poses a great
risk in global health. Others include leukemia, anemia, hemorrhage, a reduction in the life span leading to
premature aging and premature deaths as well as others such as cardiovascular complications. Leukemia,
for instance, is caused by radiation in the bone marrow.

Soil Infertility
Exposure of radiation to the atmosphere means it is present even in soils. Radioactive substances in the
soil react together with the various nutrients leading to the destruction of those nutrients, thus rendering
the soil infertile and highly toxic. Such soil leads to the harvest of crops that are riddled with radiation
and thus, unfit for consumption by both humans and animals.

Cell Destruction
Radioactive pollution has diverse effects, such as the alteration of cells. The bodies of living organisms
are unique as within it, there are millions of cells in one single body, where each has its own purpose to
fulfill. Radiation distorts the cells present, leading to permanent damage of the various organs and organ
systems. In the face of too much radiation, permanent illnesses and death are inevitable.

Burns
Radiation is not easy to feel, but it is easy to realize that you have been affected by it. The immediate
presence of burns, red lesions and sores is evidence. To make it worse, this can lead to skin cancer.

Effects on Wildlife
The animals at different levels suffer differently. The higher-level organisms get more affected than
insects and flies. Herbivores, such as cattle, when grazing the contaminated land, the deposited Ce-13 and
I-131 get accumulated on the animal tissues in a large amount. These radionuclides enter their metabolic
cycles and affect their DNAs (mentioned above; ionizing). This ends up having a mutated animal
generation with a higher risk of health issues by just a small amount of radionuclides.

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Effects on Plants
The plants are also exposed to radiation, and the damage is mostly done due to the increased Ultraviolet
waves. Different plants get affected differently.

Effects on Marine life

The power plants, which are the sources of nuclear energy and chemical processing, have been releasing
radioisotopes into the water for decades. Cesium, Radon, Crypton, Ruthenium, Zinc and Copper are few
of them. Though the waste is released in a “permissible” amount, it does not mean safe.

4. Ways to prevent or limit radiation pollution

Proper Method of Disposing of Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste still has some level of radiation. Accordingly, it cannot be disposed of in the same way
as normal waste. It cannot be incinerated or buried. Since there is a likelihood of seepage, this waste
should be stored in heavy and thick concrete containers. Another option is to dilute the radiation since
storage may not be possible. Since there are no easy ways of disposing of radioactive material,
professional assistance should always be sought.

Proper Labeling
It is necessary for any material with radioactive content to be labeled, and the necessary precautions
advised on the content of the label. The reason for this is because radiation can enter the body by a mere
touch of radioactive material. Containers with such elements should be well labeled in order to make one
use protective gear when handling them.

Banning of Nuclear Tests

It has already been proven that nuclear power has a lot of latent power that is very destructive.
Nevertheless, the tests done to perfect the energy contribute greatly to the overall presence of radioactive
substances. Moreover, these tests, though done in the deserts, end up escaping from one ecosystem to
another, eventually affecting the lives of many people.

Alternative Energy Sources

The evolution and use of nuclear power was not a bad thing initially. However, considering the damage
and threats it has on the environment, it is high time for its use to be discontinued and for the world to
perhaps focus on alternative and environmentally friendly energy sources – like renewable sources of
energy namely solar, hydro-electric and wind power.

Proper Storage
It is mandatory for containers carrying radioactive material to be stored properly. For starters, such
substances should be stored in radiation proof containers to ensure no seeping or leakage during handling.
Proper storage means no harm and can minimize cases of accidental leakage.

Reusing
Since it is not easy to store or dispose the waste, it can be recycled and used for other purposes like in
another reactor as fuel thereby protecting the environment.

Precautions at the Personal Level

There may be the possibility of contamination if one owns a house located near a nuclear power plant. In
that case, it is recommended to check the level of radon gas in your building. The radon level needs to be
removed. Those who work with radioactive material are also at great risk. They need protective measures
to keep away from radioactive contamination.

5. Technologies to prevent or limit radiation pollution

POLYTUNGSTEN
Tungsten-filled polymers that block radiation as efficiently as lead—with none of lead’s potential
dangers. This PolyTungsten material is safe and reliable—and works as well as lead. This proprietary
polymer provides radiation shielding and attenuation up to and including a one-to-one equivalency with
lead.

Radiation Shield Technologies (RST)

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Design and production of personal protection systems for ionizing and nuclear radiation. It is specifically
engineered to combine radiation protection with “ease of use” in order to maximize effective radiological
defense.

Active soil depressurization (ASD)

This system contains a vent pipe with an inline centrifugal fan that operates continuously to vent radon
and other intruding gases. Thus, the system may be efficient to block the intrusion into homes not only of
radon, but also of other toxic chemicals (non-radioactive) that may get from the subsurface breathing air.

6. Philippine National Laws about Radiation Pollution

REPUBLIC ACT No. 5207

An act providing for the licensing and regulation of atomic energy facilities and materials, establishing
the rules on liability for nuclear damage, and for other purposes.
Republic act no. 3589
No person may manufacture, produce, transfer, acquire, own, possess, import or export any radioactive
material except in pursuance of a license issued in accordance with this Act.

7. Chernobyl Accident

The April 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was the product of a flawed
Soviet reactor design coupled with serious mistakes made by the plant operators. It was a direct
consequence of Cold War isolation and the resulting lack of any safety culture. Location of Chernobyl
and other nuclear power plants in Ukraine The accident destroyed the Chernobyl 4 reactor, killing 30
operators and firemen within three months and several further deaths later. One person was killed
immediately and a second died in hospital soon after as a result of injuries received. Another person is
reported to have died at the time from a coronary thrombosis. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) was
originally diagnosed in 237 people onsite and involved with the clean-up and it was later confirmed in
134 cases. Of these, 28 people died as a result of ARS within a few weeks of the accident. Nineteen more
workers subsequently died between 1987 and 2004, but their deaths cannot necessarily be attributed to
radiation exposure. Nobody offsite suffered from acute radiation effects although a significant, but
uncertain, fraction of the thyroid cancers diagnosed since the accident in patients who were children at the
time are likely to be due to intake of radioactive iodine falloutm,9.

Furthermore, large areas of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and beyond were contaminated in varying degrees.
The Chernobyl disaster was a unique event and the only accident in the history of commercial nuclear
power where radiation-related fatalities occurred. The design of the reactor is unique and in that respect
the accident is thus of little relevance to the rest of the nuclear industry outside the then Eastern Bloc.
However, it led to major changes in safety culture and in industry cooperation, particularly between East
and West before the end of the Soviet Union. Former President Gorbachev said that the Chernobyl
accident was a more important factor in the fall of the Soviet Union than Perestroika – his program of
liberal reform.

8. Hiroshima Japan Bombing

The two atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of people,
and their effects are still being felt today. By the end of 1945, the bombing had killed an estimated
140,000 people in Hiroshima, and a further 74,000 in Nagasaki. In the years that followed, many of the
survivors would face leukemia, cancer, or other terrible side effects from the radiation. The uranium
bomb detonated over Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 had an explosive yield equal to 15,000 tons of TNT. It
razed and burnt around 70 per cent of all buildings and caused an estimated 140,000 deaths by the end of
1945, along with increased rates of cancer and chronic disease among the survivors.

A slightly larger plutonium bomb exploded over Nagasaki three days later levelled 6.7 sq. km. Of the
city and killed 74,000 people by the end of 1945. Ground temperatures reached 4,000°C and radioactive
rain poured down.

9. The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan

The Great East Japan Earthquake of magnitude 9.0 at 2.46 pm on Friday 11 March 2011 did considerable
damage in the region, and the large tsunami it created caused very much more. The earthquake was
centred 130 km offshore the city of Sendai in Miyagi prefecture on the eastern coast of Honshu Island

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(the main part of Japan), and was a rare and complex double quake giving a severe duration of about 3
minutes. An area of the seafloor extending 650 km north-south moved typically 10-20 metres
horizontally. Japan moved a few metres east and the local coastline subsided half a metre. The tsunami
inundated about 560 km2 and resulted in a human death toll of about 19,500 and much damage to coastal
ports and towns, with over a million buildings destroyed or partly collapsed.

Eleven reactors at four nuclear power plants in the region were operating at the time and all shut down
automatically when the earthquake hit. Subsequent inspection showed no significant damage to any from
the earthquake. The operating units which shut down were Tokyo Electric Power Company's (Tepco's)
Fukushima Daiichi 1, 2, 3, and Fukushima Daini 1, 2, 3, 4, Tohoku's Onagawa 1, 2, 3, and Japco's Tokai,
total 9377 MWe net. Fukushima Daiichi units 4, 5&6 were not operating at the time, but were affected.
The main problem initially centred on Fukushima Daiichi 1-3. Unit 4 became a problem on day five.The
reactors proved robust seismically, but vulnerable to the tsunami. Power, from grid or backup generators,
was available to run the residual heat removal (RHR) system cooling pumps at eight of the eleven units,
and despite some problems they achieved 'cold shutdown' within about four days. The other three, at
Fukushima Daiichi, lost power at 3.42 pm, almost an hour after the earthquake, when the entire site was
flooded by the 15-metre tsunami. This disabled 12 of 13 backup generators onsite and also the heat
exchangers for dumping reactor waste heat and decay heat to the sea. The three units lost the ability to
maintain proper reactor cooling and water circulation functions. Electrical switchgear was also disabled.

Thereafter, many weeks of focused work centred on restoring heat removal from the reactors and coping
with overheated spent fuel ponds. This was undertaken by hundreds of Tepco employees as well as some
contractors, supported by firefighting and military personnel. Some of the Tepco staff had lost homes, and
even families, in the tsunami, and were initially living in temporary accommodation under great difficulty
and privation, with some personal risk. A hardened onsite emergency response centre was unable to be
used in grappling with the situation, due to radioactive contamination.

Noise Pollution

1. Introduction
Noise pollution is an invisible danger. It cannot be seen, but it is present nonetheless, both on land and
under the sea. Noise pollution is considered to be any unwanted or disturbing sound that affects the health
and well-being of humans and other organisms.

Sound is measured in decibels. There are many sounds in the environment, from rustling leaves (20 to 30
decibels) to a thunderclap (120 decibels) to the wail of a siren (120 to 140 decibels). Sounds that reach 85
decibels or higher can harm a person’s ears. Sound sources that exceed this threshold include familiar
things, such as power lawn mowers (90 decibels), subway trains (90 to 115 decibels), and loud rock
concerts (110 to 120 decibels).

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. Many children who live near noisy airports or streets have been found to suffer from stress and
other problems, such as impairments in memory, attention level, and reading skill.

Noise pollution also impacts the health and well-being of wildlife. Studies have shown that loud noises
can cause caterpillars' dorsal vessels (the insect equivalent of a heart) to beat faster, and cause bluebirds to
have fewer chicks. Animals use sound for a variety of reasons, including to navigate, find food, attract
mates, and avoid predators. Noise pollution makes it difficult for them to accomplish these tasks, which
affects their ability survive.
2. Sources or Causes

Industrialization
Most of the industries use big machines which are capable of producing a large amount of noise. Apart
from that, various equipment like compressors, generators, exhaust fans, grinding mills also participates
in producing big noise. You’re probably familiar with the sight of workers in these factories and
industries wearing earplugs to minimize the effect of noise.

Poor Urban Planning

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In most of the developing countries, poor urban planning also plays a vital role. Congested houses, large
families sharing small space, fight over parking, frequent fights over basic amenities lead to noise
pollution, which may disrupt the environment of society.

Social Events
Noise is at its peak in most of the social events. Whether it is marriage, parties, pub, disc or place of
worship, people normally flout rules set by the local administration and create a nuisance in the area.
People play songs on full volume and dance till midnight, which makes the condition of people living
nearby pretty worse. In markets, you can see people selling clothes via making a loud noise to attract the
attention of people.

Transportation
A large number of vehicles on roads, airplanes flying over houses, underground trains produce heavy
noise, and people find it difficult to get accustomed to that. The high noise leads to a situation wherein a
normal person loses the ability to hear properly.

Construction Activities
Under construction activities like mining, construction of bridges, dams, buildings, stations, roads,
flyovers takes place in almost every part of the world. These construction activities take place every day
as we need more buildings, bridges to accommodate more people.

Household Chores
We people are surrounded by gadgets and use them extensively in our daily life. Gadgets like TV, mobile,
mixer grinder, pressure cooker, vacuum cleaners, washing machine and dryer, cooler, air conditioners are
minor contributors to the amount of noise that is produced. Still, it affects the quality of life of your
neighborhood in a bad way.

Noise From Air Traffic

While many find it difficult to believe, air traffic too contributes to significant levels of noise pollution.
Noise from a single aircraft may produce sounds of up to 130 dB. Now, imagine the amount of noise
produced by the numerous aircraft traveling our airspace.

Catering and Nightlife

When the weather is good, restaurants, bars, and terraces spill outside. Late night parties continue with
loud music and unnecessary noise made by the party mongers. These can produce more than 100 dB. The
noise from pubs and clubs are also included.

Animals’ Sound
The noise made by animals cannot go unnoticed, particularly a howling or barking dog. These can
produce noise around 60-80 dB.

3. Effects

Hearing Problems
Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter can cause problems within the body. Our
ears can take in a certain range of sounds without getting damaged. Constant exposure to loud levels of
noise can easily result in the damage of our eardrums and loss of hearing, causing tinnitus or deafness. It
also reduces our sensitivity to sounds that our ears pick up unconsciously to regulate our body’s rhythm.

Psychological Issues
Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as offices, construction sites, bars and even in our homes
can influence psychological health. Studies show that the occurrence of aggressive behavior, disturbance
of sleep, constant stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, hysteria and hypertension in humans as well as
animals can be linked to excessive noise levels. The level of irritation increases with increased noise, and
people tend to become less and less patient. These, in turn, can cause more severe and chronic health
issues later in life.

Physical Problems
Noise pollution can cause headaches, high blood pressure, respiratory agitation, racing pulse, and, in
exposure to extremely loud, constant noise, gastritis, colitis and even heart attacks may occur.

Cognitive Issues & Behavioral Changes

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Noise affects brain responses and people’s ability to focus, which can lead to low-performance levels
over time. Like other sound waves, too much noise when it goes to the brain leads to lower response rates
as well as making the mind dull. It is also poor for memory, making it hard to study. The studies have
shown that school children living near railway stations or airports have problems in learning.

Sleeping Disorders
While it may not seem like much at this point, excessively high levels of noise are likely to hamper your
sleeping pattern, thereby leading to irritation and uncomfortable situations. Without a good night’s sleep,
you might experience multiple problems related to fatigue. This will affect your performance in the office
as well as at home. It is therefore recommended to take a sound sleep to give your body proper rest.

Cardiovascular Issues
Blood pressure levels, cardiovascular disease, and stress-related heart problems are on the rise. Studies
suggest that high-intensity noise causes high blood pressure and increases heartbeat rate as it disrupts the
normal blood flow.

Trouble Communicating
High decibel noise can put trouble and affect free communication between people. This may lead to
misunderstanding, and you may get difficult understanding the other person. Constant sharp noise can
give you a severe headache and disturb your emotional balance.

Effect on Wildlife
Wildlife faces far more problems than humans because of noise pollution since they are more dependent
on sound. Animals develop a better sense of hearing than us since their survival depends on it.

4. Ways to prevent or limit noise pollution

WHO agrees that awareness of noise pollution is essential to beat this invisible enemy. As of now, there
are not many solutions to reduce sound pollution. However, governments can help in the following ways:

 Establishing regulations that include preventive and corrective measures.

 Governments can take measures such as protecting certain areas, parts of the countryside, areas of
natural interest, city parks, etc. to ensure noise management and reduce noise pollution.
 The mandatory separation between residential zones and sources of noise, like airports.
 Fines for exceeding noise limits.
 Other ways to battle noise pollution are by controlling the sound levels in clubs, bars, parties, and
discos.
 Removal of public loudspeakers is another way in which pollution can be countered.
 Again, better urban planning can help create ‘No-Noise’ zones, where honking and industrial
noise is not tolerated.
 Replacing traditional asphalt with more efficient options can also help reduce traffic noise by up
to 3 dB.
 Keep checking the surrounding noise levels and limit the sounds that you produce.
 Stay in a green neighborhood full of trees as they are known to reduce the sound levels from 5 to
10 dB.
 Reduce noise in homes by lowering the volume of the radio, music system and the television.
 Avoid very noisy leisure activities and also going to areas that are too noisy.
 Get your vehicle checked regularly and lubricate it properly that it doesn’t produce too much
noise.
 In the case of new buildings, you can insulate your home with noise-absorbing materials.

5. Technologies to prevent or limit noise pollution

Industrial Noise Reduction

Need for Noise Reduction in Industrial Corridors
Drivers & Challenges Associated with Reduction of Industrial Noise Pollution
Regulations Formulated by Governments Aid in Attenuating Noise from Industries

Innovations in Industrial Noise Reduction

Quiet Fan Technology to Reduce Tonal Noise at Source in Industrial Corridors
Utilization of Noise Cancellation Technologies to Generate Anti-noise for Loud Machineries in Industries

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Acoustic Panel Technology to Remove Noise from Heavy Machineries
Active Noise Control Technology to Eliminate Vibration and Other Noise in Industrial Equipment

Vehicular Noise Reduction

Impact of Automotive Noise Pollution on Human Health and Environment
Drivers & Challenges Associated With Reduction of Automotive Noise Pollution
Stringent Regulations on Maximum Permissible Noise Levels is Key to Reduce Automotive Noise
Pollution

Innovations in Vehicular Noise Reduction

Utilization of Tires with Low Rolling Resistance to Reduce Vehicular Noise Pollution
Installation of Swirl Vanes to Reduce Noise Pollution in Supersonic Military jets
Shroud-based Noise Cancellation Technologies to Enhance Sound Recording Capabilities of UAVs
Customized Noise and Vibration Reduction Solutions to Enhance Driver Comfort

Residential Noise Reduction

Type of Building and Time of Day Plays a Vital Role in the Impact of Noise Pollution in Residential
Buildings
Growing Dense Neighborhoods around the Globe Will Necessitate the Need for Noise Reduction
Measures to Improve Comfort
Regulations are Primarily Focused on Specifying Prohibited Hours for the Use of Various Appliances in
the Residential Area

Innovations in Residential Noise Reduction

Effective Noise Reduction in Buildings Using Noise Cancellation That Can Work Even with the
Windows Opened
Easy-to-install Soundproofing Curtains that Blocks, Reflects and Captures Noise inside Buildings
Sustainable Solution for Noise Reduction Along with Air Purification

6. Philippine National Laws about Noise Pollution

Section 8 of RA 386
Prohibits property owners from “committing nuisance through noise, jarring, offensive odor, smoke,
heat, dust, water, glare and other causes.”

Section 6 of PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1152

Standards for Noise-Producing Equipment. There shall be established a standard for noise producing
equipment such as construction equipment, transportation equipment, stationary engines, and electrical or
electronic equipment and such similar equipment or contrivances. The standards shall set a limit on the
acceptable level of noise emitted from a given equipment for the protection of public health and welfare,
considering among others, the magnitude and condition of use, the degree of noise reduction achievable
through the application of best available technology and the cost of compliance. The Installation of any
noise-producing equipment shall conform with the requirements of Presidential Decree No. 1096 and
other applicable laws as well as their implementing rules and regulations.

7. Videoke issues or ordinance

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said indoor videoke singing
sessions limited to members of a household is allowed.

8. Very loud exhaust of vehicles issues or ordinance

Ordinance No. 8722 (the Motor Vehicles Modified Muffler Noise Regulation Ordinance)
Under the new ordinance, all motor vehicles, whether public or private, are not allowed to have
modified/loud exhausts that emit and produce noise levels beyond the national standard of 99 decibels
(dB). Exempted, however, from the ordinance are vehicles used for car shows, racing/motorsport
competitions.

9. Decibels of sounds or noise

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ADDITIONAL TOPICS:

1. Minamata disease

Minamata disease is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. Signs and symptoms
include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and
damage to hearing and speech.

2. Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation is a process of accumulation of chemicals in an organism that takes place if the rate of
intake exceeds the rate of excretion. Chemicals are introduced into the organism through exposure to the
abiotic environment (soil, water, air) or as dietary intake (trophic transfer).

3. Biomagnification

Biomagnification is the accumulation of a chemical by an organism from water and food exposure that
results in a concentration that is greater than would have resulted from water exposure only and thus
greater than expected from equilibrium.

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