Urban Noise pollution

Presented by:

Saad Farooqi, C# 01

Department of Environmental & Conservation SciencesUniversity of Swat

Noise Pollution

•Noise is generally used as an unwanted sound, or sound which produces unpleasant effects and discomfort on the ears.

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• Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleeping, conversation, or disrupts or diminishes one’s quality of life.

•Not all noise can be called noise pollution. If it does not happen regularly, it may be termed as 'Nuisance‘.

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•Scientists also believe that its not only humans who are affected. For example, water animals are subjected to noise by submarines and big ships on the ocean, and chain-saw operations by timber companies also create extreme noise to animals in the forests.

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•Noise (or sound) is measured in the units of decibels and is denoted by the dB.  Noise which is more than 115 dB is tolerant. The industrial limit of sound in the industries must be 75 dB according to the World Health Organization.

Noise Pollution in Urban Areas

•Urban areas are generally noisier than rural areas, and because larger numbers of people live in urban areas.

•Urban noise levels are a complex mixture of noise from transportation, factories, industries, machines, and people.

Sources

•Basically, noise sources can be grouped into three types:

Transportation, Industrial, and Residential.

Transportation Sources

•Transportation sources of noise are comprised principally of automotive and aircraft noises;

motorcycles, scooters, and snowmobiles should also be considered..

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A main contributor to transportation noise is automotive traffic i.e.,oMotor vehicles,oMotor cycle,oBuses, etc…

Industrial Sources

• Some industrial operations and equipment are significant noise sources. Principal examples are:

machinery or machine tools, high-speed rotating or stamping operations, and fan, and blower systems.

Residential sources

oAir conditioners, oLawn mowers, odishwashers, okitchen and laundry appliances, otelevision, ostereos,

Cont…opets, and ochildren, othe overall severity of these sources cannot

be ignored.

•Furthermore, the simple increase in the numbers of tools, cars, and appliances used by modern industrial societies can create a substantial noise burden.

Effects

• Noise pollution affects both health and behavior.

• Unwanted sound (noise) can damage psychological health. 

• Noise pollution can cause hypertension, Speech interference,

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•high stress levels,

•hearing loss,

• sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects.

Prevention and control tips

•Below are a few things people and governments can do to make our communities and living places quieter:

Construction of soundproof rooms for noisy machines in industrial and manufacturing installations must be encouraged.

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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.

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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

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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.

Thank You

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