ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

NOISE POLLUTION
Noise pollution: Noise pollution can be defined as any 5. Agriculture machines: Heavy agricultural
unwanted or disturbing sound that effects the health and machineries and equipments such as tractors,
well-being of human and other organism. The sound is thrashers, tube wells, powered tillers, harvesters etc.
typically described in terms of loudness and it is measured are being used in many agricultural farms. These
in logarithmic units called decibels (dB). Not all sound is machinery may create noise pollution of level more
considered as noise pollution. According to World Health than 90 dB to 98 dB.
Organisation (WHO), noise above 65 dB can be
6. Defense equipment: A lot of noise pollution is
considered as noise pollution. To be very precious, noise
created by artillery, tanks, explosions, shooting
becomes harmful when it exceeds 75 dB and painful
practices etc. by defense personnel. Noise created by
above 120 dB.
jet engines and sonic booms have been known to
Sources of noise pollution: Noise pollution is caused shatter the window panes and old dilapidated
mainly due to industrialization, urbanization and modern buildings and also it has deafening impact on the
civilization. The source of noise pollution can be ears.
categorized into two category: Industrial sources and
7. Miscellaneous sources: The construction site,
Non-industrial sources. Industrial sources include noise
blasting, stone crusher etc. are some of the other
from various industries and big machines working at very
sources of noise pollution.
high speed and with very high noise intensity. Non-
industrial sources include noise created by Measurement of noise pollution level: The sound can be
transport/vehicular traffic, loudspeaker, radio etc. described physically as well as physiologically.
However, the major source of noise pollution may be Physically, sound is a mechanical disturbance propagated
categorized as follows: as a wave motion in air or other media such as water, steel
etc. Physiologically, sound is an auditory sensation or
1. Industrial sources: The industries such as textile
perception evoked by this physical phenomenon. The
mills, engineering establishments, printing press,
physical properties and perception of sound or noise are
metal works etc. contribute heavily towards noise
expressed and measured in different concepts and units.
pollution. Many industrial cities in India like
Sound pressure is used as the fundamental measure of
Kolkata, Kanpur etc. are more affected as industrial
sound (amplitude) as it can be measured directly by
zones are not separated from residential zones
instruments. The weakest sound pressure disturbance that
specially in case of small scale industries. It is
can be detected by an average person at 1000 Hz has been
therefore advisable to keep industrial zone away
found to be 20 µN/m2 and the largest sound pressure
from the residential zone and they may be separated
perceived without discomfort is of the order of 107 µN/m2.
by a sufficiently wide green belt.
Because of such a wide range, the use of a linear pressure
2. Transport vehicles: Automobile revolution in urban scale has been found to be impractical. It has been found
areas turned out to be a big source of noise pollution. convenient to employ sound pressure level, a quantity,
In the recent past, there is an enormous growth in which is proportional to the logarithm of sound pressure.
traffic volume due to increase in number of vehicles By this, the sound pressure range of interest is
such as busses, trains, trucks etc. resulting in compressed between 0 to 130, a range convenient to use.
increased noise pollution. Airport located in the The sound pressure level is expressed in the unit of
vicinity of residential areas creates lots of noise decibel (dB).
pollution as the airplanes passes over the residential Sound pressure level is defined as:
areas during its landing and taking off. Heavy trucks, 𝐿𝑝 = 10 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 (𝑃/𝑃𝑟 )2
busses, trains, motor bikes, mopeds etc. are also Where 𝐿𝑝 = sound pressure level, dB
contribute to the noise pollution. 𝑃 = 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛 µN/m2
𝑃𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
3. Household noise: The household activity is also a 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 = 𝐿𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 10
source of many indoor noises such as noise of The reference sound pressure, 𝑃𝑟 has an internationally
playing children, infants crying, moving of furniture agreed value of 20 µN/m2.
etc. Domestic gadgets like mixer-grinder, pressure Sound is measured with a sound level meter which is
cookers, exhaust fans, washing machines and usually a portable, self-contained instrument
entertainment equipment such as radio, music incorporating a microphone, amplifier, a voltmeter and
system, television sets are all indoor sources of noise attenuators, the whole of which is calibrated to read sound
pollution. pressure levels directly.
4. Public address system (PA system): Many public Effects of Noise pollution: Noise is more than a mere
functions such as political rallies, strikes, elections, nuisance. Noise pollution may have deleterious effects on
religious and other social events etc. use PA system human health, wild life and environmental quality. Some
normally in a very loud volume and thus are become of the major effects of noise pollution is discussed below:
the source of noise pollution. 1. Hearing problems: Our ears can take certain range
of sounds without getting damaged. Constant
 exposure to loud levels of noise may result in loss of humans as their survival depends on it. Animals gets
hearing. It may also reduce our sensitivity to sounds disoriented more easily and face many behavioural
that our ears picks up unconsciously in our day-to- problems. They may suffer from hearing loss and
day life. become inefficient in hunting which may lead to
disturbing the balance of eco-system.
2. Psychological issues: Our psychological health may
get influenced by noise pollution in working areas Noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000:
such as offices, construction sites or even in homes. The increasing ambient noise levels in public places from
It may result in disturbance of sleep, constant stress, various sources, inter-alia, industrial activity,
fatigue, anxiety, depression etc. These, in turn, may construction activity, fire crackers, sound producing
cause more severe and chronic health issue in the instruments, generator sets, loud speakers, public address
later stage of life. systems, music systems, vehicular horns and other
mechanical devices have deleterious effects on human
3. Physical problems: Excessive noise level may
health and the psychological well-being of the people. It
cause high blood pressure, headaches, respiratory
is considered necessary to regulate and control noise
problems, racing pulse etc.
producing and generating sources with the objective of
4. Cognitive issues: Noise pollution may affect brain maintaining the ambient air quality standards in respect
responses and ability to focus which may result in of the noise.
low performance levels over the time. The study In order to address above issues, the principal rules were
reveals that the school children residing near railway published in the Gazette of India, dated 14.2.2000 under
station or airport have problems in learning. the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which
5. Sleeping disorders: High level of noise likely to undergone several amendments.
affect our sleeping pattern and it may lead to very The main features of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and
uncomfortable and irritating situations. It may result Control) Rules, 2000 is described under the sub-headings:
in early fatigue and affect our performance in office 1. Short-title and commencement
as well as in home. 2. Definitions
3. Ambient air quality standards in respect of noise for
6. Cardiovascular issues: High level of noise may different areas/zones
cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease 4. Responsibility as to enforcement of noise pollution
and stress related heart problems. control measures.
7. Communication barrier: Noise pollution may act 5. Restrictions on the use of loud speakers/public
as a barrier in free communication among the people. address system and sound producing
This may lead to misunderstanding and also instruments (5A) Restriction on the use of horns,
difficulty in understanding each other. It may affect sound emitting construction equipment and bursting
badly the teaching learning process in the class room, of fire crackers.
laboratories and workshops. 6. Consequences of any violation in silence zone/area.
7. Complaints to be made to the authority.
8. Effect on wildlife: Noise pollution affects wildlife 8. Power to prohibit etc. continuance of music sound or
more than the humans as they are more dependent on noise.
sound. Animals have better sense of hearing than

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