CHAPTER 4

NOISE POLLUTION
PRESENTED BY:
Anthony Ching
Johanna Ysabelle Icasiano
Davinci Magallano
What is Noise?
• Noise, defined as any sound, independent of
loudness that can produce any undesirable effect
on the individuals physiological and the
psychological activities and may even interfere
with the group or individual’s ends. A social end
includes communication, work ,rest , sleep and
recreation.
Definition of Terms
• Cochlea- a spiral structure
in the inner ear that looks like
a snail shells and contains
over 10,000 tiny hair cells that
move in response to sound
waves. These movements
stimulate nerve cells to send
messages to the brain, which
the brain interprets as sounds.
 Definition of Terms
• Decibel- unit of relative loudness; a unit of relative sound
loudness, electric voltage, or current equal to ten times the
common logarithm of the ratio of two readings. For sound, the
decibel scale runs from zero for the ;east perceptible sound to 130
for sound that causes pain. Symbol dB
Definition of Terms
•Ear-the organ of hearing and
balance in vertebrates that, in
mammals, is divided into three parts,
the external , middle, and inner ear.
The external ear collects sound, the
middle ear contains small bones that
amplify and transmit it, while the
inner ear maintains balance and
contains sensory nerve endings for
detecting sound.
Definition of Terms
• Hearing- The
perception of sound,
made possible by
vibratory changes in
air pressure on the ear
drums
 Definition of Terms
• Hearing Loss- a measurable reduction of the ability to hear or
distinguish sounds, especially a specific frequency
• Noise Pollution- irritating, distracting or physically dangerous
noise to which people are exposed in their environment and over which
they usually have no control.
• Organ of Corti- a part of the cochlea of the inner eaer that
transforms sound energy into nerve impulses to the brain.
• Sound- something that can be heard.
 Properties of Sound Wave
The vibration of solid objects or the separation of fluids as they pass over
the solid object will result to sound waves.
Condensation and Rarefaction in Sound Waves
• Speaker membrane expands, • As the membrane moves
creating a region where the air back, a region is left behind
molecules are packed closely where few molecules are
together, a “condensation”. located, a “rarefaction”.
The air pressure in a
condensation is higher than Meanwhile, the
normal condensation moves forward
 Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
• Longitudinal: Displacement • Transverse:
are parallel to direction of Displacements perpendicular
propagation. to propagation direction
• Sinusoidal- the rise and fall of pressure at point A will
follow a cyclic or wave pattern over a period of time.
• Period (P)- The time between successive peaks or
between successive troughs of the oscillation.
• Frequency(F)- the inverse of period, the number of
times a peak arrives in one sound of oscillation.
• Amplitude (y)- The height of the peak or depth trough
measured from the zero pressure line
• Wavelength (λ)- distance between adjacent crest or
troughs of pressure.
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
 NOISE STANDARDS
Common City Sounds Decibels (dBA)
Quiet Home 20
Normal Talking 40
Ringing Telephone 60
Air Conditioner 751

*Sustained exposure to noise over 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss
Shouting
Subway Train 100
Honking Horns
Jack Hammers
Loud Music 120
Jet Take-off
Relative Scale of Sound Pressure Level
 Combining Sound Pressure Level
• Combining sound pressure levels is demonstrated by converting the dB to
sound power level them then converting back to dB. When more then 2
pressure levels, It should be combined two at a time starting at the lower-
valued levels until one number remains
Averaging Sound Pressure Levels
 The Effect of Noise in Health
The effects of noise on health are often
misunderstood or unrecognized. Well
documented studies to clarify the role of
noise as a public health hazard are still
required, but we at least know from existing
evidence that the danger is real.
 The Effect of Noise in Health
• Hearing Loss
When hearing loss occurs, it is in
most cases gradual, becoming worse
with time. The first awareness of the
damage usually begins with the loss
of occasional words in general
conversation and with difficulty
understanding speech heard on the
telephone,
 The Effect of Noise in Health
• Heart Disease

Noise is the only one of several

environmental causes of stress. For this
reason, researchers cannot say with
confidence that noise alone can caused
the heart and circulatory problems they
have observed what they can point to is
a statistical relationship apparent in
several field and laboratory studies.
 The Effect of Noise in Health
• The Body’s Other Reaction
In readiness for dangerous and
harmful situations, our bodies
make automatic and unconscious
responses to sudden or loud
sounds. Of course, most noise in
our modern society does not
signify such danger. However, our
bodies still react as if these sounds
were always a threat or warning
 Sources of Noises
• Noise in the Community
I. Road Traffic
Road Traffic is the most
widespread noise source in
developed countries. In order to
reduce exposure, noise emission
limits have been defined for all
new vehicle types.
 II. Railway
Although railways are generally
seen as the safest, most
economical, and most
environmentally transport
systems, many countries are now
reappraising the cost of new
railways in term of environmental
impact,
 III. Aircraft
Concern about aircraft noise
rapidly after World War II and, by
the mid-1960’s , it bad reached
such a level that aviation
authority and manufacturers
realize that noise from the early
jet engines needed to be
controlled and reduced in order to
create a more acceptable
environment
 IV. Industry

Most manufacturing and

industrial create noise. In
many cases these may be
limited to the plant’s
interior, while in others it
will affect in the
neighborhood
 V. Constructions
Construction
activities are noisy
and have potential
to cause
disturbances in the
surrounding
communities.
VI. Social Noise

Neighbors make noise; in

fact, noise from the
living and social habit of
our neighbors is
generating more
complaints than any
other single source of
noise.
 VII. Military Sources
Noise from the military
sources is generally
limited to noise from
military aircraft and
from practice firing
time.
 Types of Sound
1. Steady- state or continuous
Uninterrupted sound level that varies less than 5 dB during the period of
observation.

2. Intermittent Sound
A continuous noise for more than one (1) second and uninterrupted for more
than one second.

3. Impulse or Impact Sound

A noise with the duration of less than one second that is characterized by a
change of sound of 40 dB or more.
 PROBABLE WAYS TO
CONTROL NOISE
1. The first approach has been to
reduce noise at source. Design
and fabrication of silencing
devices and their use in aircraft
engines, trucks, cars,
motorcycles, industrial machines
and home appliances would be
an effective measure. Protection
to workers can be provided
through wearing devices such as
earplugs and earmuffs.
2. Making a change in design and
operation of machines, vibration
control, sound roof cabins and
sound absorbing materials can
reduce it.
3. Trees and shrubs may
be planted in front of
building to prevent some
road noise.
• 4. Vegetation buffer zones must be created in different parts of the
city. Efforts should be made for roadside plantations.
• 5. Education. People can be educated through
radio, TV, newsreels in cinema halls about
noise pollution. In the family, elders can teach
children to keep radio volume low, low voice
talking not to horn unnecessarily on the roads,
avoid quarrelling amongst each other and so
on. There should be complete ban of
loudspeakers
 Noise pollution control
• Noise pollution is a growing threat to our health and
happiness. Preventive measures should be taken in order to
control noise pollution, such as:
• 1. Prescribing maximum noise
levels for night clubs and for
district regulating trucks.
• 2. Setting of maximum noise
standards for various types of
motor vehicles machineries or
plants.
• 3. Maintenance of good roads.
• 4. Discipline on the part of
man.
• 5. Systematic education
information campaign.
• 6. Periodic inspection of
vehicles and factories.
 NOISE ABATEMENT
• Noise abatement measures are under the
jurisdiction of local government except for
occupational noise abatement efforts.
• In, todays mechanized world it is virtually
impossible for an active person to avoid
exposure to potentially harmful sound
levels.
• For this reason, hearing specialists now
recommend that we get into the habit of
wearing protectors, not only to guard
against hearing loss but also to reduce the
annoying effects of noise.