Human being is considered as a
hungry of needs and demands, if one need is fulfilled another is developed.
Needs and demands can be ignored, but necessity can never be ignored in any
corner of the world. Necessities are basic needs of human being (i.e. Food,
shelter and health). World seems to be fighting with each other for their needs
and rights, but it is generally ignored in their own countries. At one side
medical sciences spending lot of time and efforts to cure health problems,
whereas health is becoming major issue because Today with increasing number of
industries and vehicles in the world the noise problem has been increased.
Particularly in the urban areas throughout the world, this problem is increasing
day by day due to urbanization of heavy industries, construction, huge traffic,
recreational centers etc; becomes the major source of noise generation.
Developed countries in particular and developing countries in general have
established their noise control standards, which are followed and implemented to
protect their people from the adverse effects/impacts of noise.
Furthermore in today’s modern day busy life every living soul wanted to set out
in calm and pleasurable place after a long hours working day. Having a home in
noisy and crowdie place can create a few illnesses and sickness which ultimately
causes hypertension. Noise is an undesirable sound that causes pollution by
producing irritation and frustration in the atmosphere. Noise pollution is not
acknowledged as pollution by numerous people in our society as in light of the
fact it has no physical existence. Originally the word “pollute” means to
destroy the purity of things. Pollution means is the contamination of air, soil
or water by the discharge of harmful substances. There are different types of
pollutions in the environment which has harmful effects but one of the main
types of pollution is Noise pollution.
Noise pollution
Noise is an unwanted, unpleasant and annoying sound caused by vibration of the
matter. Vibrations impinge on the ear drum of a human or animal and setup a
nervous disturbance, which we call sound. When the effects of sound are
undesirable that it may be termed as “Noise pollution”. Noise from industry,
traffic, homes and recreation can cause annoyance, disturb sleep and affect
health. Thus, sound is a potentially serious pollutant and threat to
environmental health.
Causes of Noise Pollution
Noise is also divided in two classes these are
Community noise
Occupational Noise
Both are discussed in detail
COMMUNITY NOISE
Community noise discuss in following two categories.
Community noise (also called environmental noise, residential noise or domestic
noise) is defined as noise emitted from all sources, except noise at the
industrial workplace. Main sources of community noises are included Road Traffic
Noise is another most widespread source of noise nuisance in the urban areas of
Pakistan. The situation is getting alarming with increase in traffic density on
city roads, particularly in Karachi, specifically in the enormous urban
communities. Engines, transports, autos, motorbikes, trucks and rickshaws with
their fumes and horns have created heightened intensity of noise in the
atmosphere. A tiny thing that creates a sound of 120db noise which is unbearable
to human ears is they are sensitive to catch the sound of 85db. This high
intense level of noise not just hurts the individuals on the streets and yet
shakes the all the people comfort in the society.
Rail when rail passes from the thick populated areas the sound of rail and horns
create the noise. Air traffic, Aircraft noise is another source of pollution
which has so far remained unchecked. In Pakistan, where most major civil
airports lie in heavily populated areas, no such precautionary measures have
been taken. Airlines, other than PIA, continue to operate Old Russian commercial
aircrafts which are exceptionally noisy. construction and public work, and the
neighborhood typical neighborhood noise comes from premises and installations
related to the catering trade (restaurant, cafeterias, discotheques, etc.); from
live or recorded music; from sporting events including motor sports; from
playgrounds and car parks; and from domestic animals such as barking dogs. The
main indoor sources are ventilation systems, office machines, home appliances
and neighbors. Moreover political parties also contribute their parts in
creating community noise pollution by disturbing public through their rallies.
In rallies they play the loud music that causes noise which ultimately affects
the general public. Another source of community noise pollution is human
behavior. It might be looks surprising to you but this is one of the major
sources. Living style and busy schedules of individual have made them impatience
and restless. In traffic and while driving on the road, they drive without any
tolerance and patience which pumps them to keep their hands more on horn rather
than steering. This annoys the other individuals on the road and a chain
continues to noise pollution.
Occupational Noise
OCCUPATIONAL NOISE
Industrialization has created not only noise pollution but many other types too.
Large and heavy machinery installed there creates lot of noise which irritates
and makes the place a hell to live for the people in the surroundings.
Population is increasing and cities are expanding towards the industrial areas
which used to be far located from the cities. In addition many and varied
sources of noise in industrial machinery and processes include: rotors, gears,
turbulent fluid flow, impact processes, and electrical machines, internal
Combustion engines, pneumatic equipment, drilling, crushing, blasting, pumps and
Compressors. Furthermore, the emitted sounds are reflected from floors, ceiling
and equipment. Noise is a common occupational hazard in many workplaces.
Occupational exposure limits specify the maximum sound pressure levels and
exposure times to which nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed without
adverse effect on their ability to hear and understand normal speech. An
occupational exposure limit of 85 dB for 8 hours should protect most people
against a permanent hearing impairment induced by noise after 40 years of
occupational exposure.
EFFECT OF NOISE ON PUBLIC HEALTH
KARACHI: Pollution-related diseases in Karachi are on the rise due to unbearable
levels of air and noise pollution in the metropolis, and some 35 percent of
people in one way or another are affected by these ailments including cardiac,
lung, eye, ENT, skin and psychological diseases, said local healthcare experts.
Head of the JPMC’s chest department Dr Nadeem Rizvi said that air pollution in
the city was going from bad to worse and almost all main arteries of the city
were covered in thick fumes and smog of dangerous gases during rush hour. He
said that they were witnessing a rising trend in lung diseases and patients of
asthma and other chest diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases Another Dr Anwar Ali Magsi is a skin disease
specialist said that smoke-emitting vehicles, especially rickshaws, were the
main culprit of air and noise pollution. He said that the incidence nasal
allergy, nasal polyp, sore throat and other ENT problems were rising and noise
pollution was causing problems such as hearing impairment, headaches and
hypertension. He suggested that two-stroke rickshaws be converted into
four-stroke rickshaws and are run on CNG to counter pollution and the engine
fitness of all vehicles, especially public transport, be strictly ensured.
The experts regretted that the government did not seem serious in tackling this
issue urgently and despite the Karachi Traffic Management Board’s (KTMB)
decision to ban all public transport vehicles made before 1976, they were still
running. They said that according to estimates, over 1.43 million vehicles were
on the city’s roads and the number was growing constantly as more than 300
vehicles are registered in Karachi daily.
Furthermore the Noise levels prevailing in a society also determines the
behaviour index. Similarly irritation and anger level in noisy community is much
higher than in a community living with low noise levels. Noise pollution results
in violence of varying nature culminating into murders on issues which would
appear absolutely insignificant and which could have been solved by dialogue at
low anger level The recognition of the noise as a serious health hazard as
opposed to a nuisance is a recent development and the health effects of the
hazardous noise exposure are now considered to be an increasingly important
public health problem, as stated below:- Globally, some 120 million people are
estimated to have disabling hearing difficulties.
Many medical investigations have proved that noise can cause physiological
stress reaction such as blood pressure and increased heart rate. Noise also
causes speech interference and disturbs sleep and rest. Human ear as a sound
receiver has to operate under a wide range of conditions. Under favorable
conditions like excessive noise, its hearing mechanism could damage permanently
or temporary, depending on type, intensity and time of exposure to noise.
Noise can adversely affect performance, for example in reading, attentiveness,
problem solving and memory. Deficits in performance can lead to accidents. Noise
above 80 dB may increase aggressive behavior. A link between community noise and
mental health problems is suggested by the demand for tranquillizers and
sleeping pills, the incidence of psychiatric symptoms and the number of
admissions to mental hospitals. Furthermore the growing environmental
degradation has exerted grave burden on resources, therefore, environmental
monitoring has become indispensable. But this fact is supported by
epidemiological that compared the prevalence of hearing loss in different
categories of occupations, or in particularly noisy occupations. Although other
factors may also contribute to hearing loss, such as exposure to vibrations,
zootoxic drugs and some chemicals, the association with noise remains robust
after accounting for these influences. According to a survey data, although high
levels of noise for short time can lead to noise induced hearing loss early but
usually 10 years of exposure is generally required for significant hearing loss
to occur. Most of the drivers are driving for 10-12 hours per day (42 per cent)
and therefore more they are on roads the more they are exposed to noise
pollution. Moreover most of the subjects (62 per cent) are driving for 7 days a
week adding to the burden on their ears. 84 per cent of the subjects are aware
of the ill effects of excessive noise. It shows the level of health education
that most are aware of this health hazard but nearly all of them (96 per cent)
are not using any protective measures. There is no doubt that there is excess
noise on roads in all major cities in Pakistan. This fact is proven by various
studies in all major cities but the problem of noise pollution is also present
in many smaller cities, from where no data is available. Prolonged or excessive
exposure to noise, whether in community or at work place, can cause permanent
medical conditions as hypertension and ischemic heart disease. Noise can
adversely affect performance, attentiveness, and memory. On roads or in industry
these deficits in performance can lead to accidents. The main social consequence
of hearing impairment is the inability to understand speech in normal
conditions, which is considered severe social handicap.
Suggestive measures
Some appropriate suggestive measures are elaborated by various experts how to
overcome such critical problems which not only affects our daily life but also
creates health problems.
Below are a few things people and governments can do to make our communities and
living laces quieter:
The Civil Aviation Authority should avoid flights over the city. Hotels should
be banned from playing loud music, and traffic police should take strict action
against drivers playing music in their cars, especially public transport.
Construction of soundproof rooms for noisy machines in industrial and
manufacturing installations must be encouraged. This is also important for
residential building—noisy machines should be installed far from sleeping and
living rooms, like in a basement or garage.
Use of horns with jarring sounds motorbikes with damaged exhaust pipes, noisy
trucks to be banned.
Noise producing industries, airports, bus and transport terminals and railway
stations to sighted far from where living places.
Community law enforcers should check the misuse of loudspeakers, worshipers,
outdoor parties and discos, as well as public announcements systems.
Community laws must silence zones near schools / colleges, hospitals etc.
Vegetation (trees) along roads and in residential areas is a good way to reduce
noise pollution as they absorb sound.
Conclusion
To conclude, I borrow some precious words from world health organization
“In Pakistan, most of the people do not know about the impacts of Noise
pollution, therefore it is recommended that Radio, TV, Newspapers, NGOs and
other media should provide wide publicity to keep the people aware about the
effects of Noise pollution and their remedial measures It is recommended that
noise protection devices (mufflers/silencers) be provided to the workers during
working hours to protect their ears from the effects of high noise intensity”