Noise and Health
Syllabus of the Topic
Points:
Desirable to know points in this topic
Define noise.
Illustrate sources of Noise Pollution,
Effects of Noise Pollution on health and
Control measures of Noise Pollution.
Question Paper format (Blue Print)
MCQs YES
SAQs YES
LAQs NO*
* LAQs - No Questions on Nice to know and Desirable to know
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Introduction-
• The word “noise’’ is comes from latin word noxia meaning injury or hurt.
• Noise is an unwanted, unpleasant and annoying sound caused by vibration of matter.
• Definition of Noise is subjective, it is differ to every individual as one’s unwanted sound may
be wanted by other.
• We can defined noise as "wrong sound, in the wrong place, at the wrong time".
• Now a days we all are living in an increasingly noisy environment. Therefore the 20th Century
has been characterized as the "Century of Noise".
• The Noise Pollution symbolizes the cacophony sounds generated in modern life, resulting in
harmful effect on health and well –being.
Properties of Noise -
• Noise has two measurable properties—frequency and intensity.
(i) Frequency
• It is the number of complete vibration cycles per second. , measured in the units called ‘Hertz’
(Hz).
• One Hz is represents one wave per second, indicating the frequency of a sound.
• This determines the pitch of the sound.
• The normal, human audio frequency range (audible range) varies from 20 to 20,000 Hz which is
changed according to age.
• Below 20 Hz are infra-audible (infra sounds) and above 20,000 Hz are called ultrasounds
(ultrasonic).
(ii) Intensity-
• Intensity or Loudness depends on amplitude of noise which is measured in decibels (dB)
(Bel in memory of Alexander Graham Bell).
• ‘Noise meter’ is the instrument on which we record Decibels.
Levels of Noise:
Source of Sound Level of Sound
Whispering 20 to 30 dB
Normal conversion 30 to 65 dB (Maximum upper limit is 85 dB)
Speech, 2-3 people 73 dB
Speech on radio 80 dB
Music on radio 85 dB
Street traffic 60 to 80 dB
Shouting About 100 dB
Motor car horn, , boiler factories About 120 dB
Train, aeroplane engine About 120 dB
Threshold of pain About 140 dB
Jet plane About 150 dB
Mechanical damage 150–160 dB
Instruments used in studying Noise:
(i) Sound level meter:-
It measures the intensity of sound in decibel (dB).
(ii) Octave band frequency analyzer:
It measures the noise in octave bands shows
sound spectrum and indicates the characteristics of noise i.e. high pitched or variable pitch.
(iii)Audiometer-
It measures the hearing ability.
Zero line at the top of the audiogram represents normal hearing.
Sources of Noise Pollution
• There are many sources of noise pollution, but here are some of the main ones:
a) Traffic noise
• Traffic noise accounts for most polluting noise in cities. For example, a car horn produces 90
dB and a bus produces 100 dB
b) Air traffic noise
• There are fewer aircraft flying over cities than there are cars on the roads, but the impact is
greater: a single aircraft produces 130 dB
c) Construction sites
• Building and car park construction and road and pavement resurfacing works are very noisy.
For example, a pneumatic drill produces 110 dB.
d) Catering and night life
• Bars, restaurants and terraces that spill outside when the weather is good can produce more
than 100 dB. This includes noise from pubs and clubs.
e) Animals
• Noise made by animals can go unnoticed, but a howling or barking dog, for example, can
produce around 60-80 dB.
Hazards of Noise Pollution
The effects of noise pollution is categorised in to two types:
1) Auditory Effect and
2) Non-auditory Effect
(1) Auditory Effects
A) Auditory Fatigue:
• It associated with whistling and buzzing in the ear and appears in 90 db loudness and greatest
at 4000 Hz frequency,
B) Deafness- :
• Deafness or hearing loss is the most serious pathological effect. Generally the victim is
unaware of it in early stages.
i) Temporary deafness-
• It is results from a specific exposure to noise. Disability disappears after a period of time up to
24 hours following the noise exposure.
• Most temporary hearing loss occurs in frequency range between 4,000 to 6,000 Hz
ii) Permanent deafness –
• It may be resulted by repeated or continuous exposure to noise around 100db.
• Deafness occurring due to occupation in industries-occupational deafness.
• Exposure to noise above 160 dB – rupture the tympanic membrane & cause permanent
deafness
iii) Inner Ear Damage –
• It may vary from minor changes in the hair cell endings to complete destruction of organ of
corti.
2) Non-auditory Effect
A) Interference with Speech:
• Noise interferes with speech communication.
• In everyday life, the frequencies causing most disturbance to speech communication lie in the
300- 500 Hz range.
• Such frequencies are commonly present in noise produced by road and air traffic.
• For good speech intelligibility, it is considered that the speech sound level must exceed the SIL
(Speech Interference Level) by approximately 12 dB.
B) Annoyance:
• This is primarily a psychological response.
• Neurotic people are more sensitive to noise than balanced people.
• Workmen exposed to higher intensity of noise in occupational capacities, were often irritated,
short tempered and impatient and more likely to resort to agitation and disrupt production.
C) Efficiency:
• Where mental concentration is to be undertaken, a low level of noise is always desired.
• Reduction in noise has been found to increase work output.
D) Physiological Changes:
• A number of temporary physiological changes occur in the human body as a direct result of
noise exposure.
• These are :
- a rise in blood pressure,
- a rise in intracranial pressure,
- an increase in heart rate and breathing and
- an increase in sweating.
General symptoms such as giddiness, nausea and fatigue may also occur.
Noise interferes with sleep.
Noise is also said to cause visual disturbance.
It is said to cause a narrowing of pupil, affect color perception and reduce night vision.
E) Economic Losses
Besides affecting health, noise is also a significant factor in economic losses.
The potential cost of noise induced hearing loss to industry is quite great.
Control of Noise Pollution:-
(i) Careful planning of cities:
In planning cities, the following measures should be taken to reduce noise;
(a) Division of the city into zones with separation of areas concerned with industry and
transport;
(b) Separation of residential areas from the main streets by means of wide green belts.
house fronts should lie not less than 15 meters from the road and the intervening space
should be thickly planted with trees and bushes;
(c) Widening of main streets to reduce the level of noise penetration into dwellings.
(ii) Control of vehicles:
Heavy vehicles should not be routed into narrow streets.
Vehicular traffic on residential streets should be reduced.
Indiscriminate blowing of the horn and use of pressure horn should be prohibited.
(iii) Improve acoustic insulation of building:
From the acoustic standpoint, the best arrangement is construction of detached buildings rather
than a single large building or one that is continuous.
Installations that produce noise or disturb the occupants within dwellings should be prohibited.
Buildings should be sound-proof where necessary.
(iv) Industries and railways
Control of noise at source is possible in industries.
Special areas must be earmarked, outside residential areas, for industries, for railways,
marshalling yards and similar installations.
When these demands cannot be met, protective green belts must be laid down between the
installations and residential areas.
(v) Protection of exposed persons:
• Hearing protection is recommended for all workers who are consistently exposed to noise
louder than 85 decibels in the frequency bands above 150 Hz.
• Workers must be regularly rotated from noisy areas to comparatively quiet posts in factories.
• Periodical audiogram check-ups and use of ear plugs, ear muffs are also essential as the
situation demands.
(vi) Legislation:
• Under Cr PC Section 133 the magisterial court have been empowered to issue order to remove
or abate nuisance caused by noise pollution. Noise pollution can be penalized under I.P.C.
Public Nuisance 268-295 relating to public health, safety, decency, morals.
• Action can also be taken under the Law of Torts as Noise pollution is considered a civil wrong.
• In Motor vehicle Act rules regarding use horns and any modification in engine are made.
Many states have adopted legislation providing for controls which are applicable to a wide
variety of sources,
Workers have the right to claim compensation if they have suffered a loss of ability to
understand speech.
Noise Pollution Control Rule 2000 under Environment Protection Act 1996
Under this Act State governments shall take measures for control noise pollution
including noise coming from vehicular movement and ensure that the existing noise
levels do not exceed the standards specified.
An area not less than 100 m around hospitals, education institutions and courts may
be declared as ‘silence area’ for the purpose of these rules.
A loud speaker or a public address system shall not be used except after obtaining
written permission from the authority and the same shall not be used at night, between
10 pm to 6 am.
(vii) Education:
No noise abatement programme can succeed without people's participation.
This education through all available media is needed to highlight the importance of noise as a
community hazard.
What you have achieve from this topic
What is Noise and Noise pollution
Noise recording instruments
Sources of Noise pollution
Control and prevention measures of Noise Pollution.
Expected Questions from this Topic:-
SAQs---
1)
MCQs--
1) Whispering produces a sound of:
(a) 20-30 dB (b) 30-40 dB (c) 40-50 dB (d) 50-60 dB 130.
2) Exposure to following minimum level of sound can cause rupture of tympanic membrane, leading
to permanent hearing loss:
(a) 90 dB (b) 110 dB (c) 160 dB (d) 1600 dB 131.
3) An upper limit of noise which people can tolerate without damage to their hearing is:
(a) 45 db (b) 65 db (c) 85 db (d) 105 db 132.
4) Exposure to noise above ……….. cause permanent loss of hearing:
(a) 85 dB (b) 90 dB (c) 100 dB (d) 160 dB
5) The decibels above which auditory fatigue occurs is:
(a) 60 db (b) 70 db (c) 85 db (d) 140 db 134.
6). Exposure to noise above _____ causes permanent loss of hearing:
(a) 85 dB (b) 90 dB (c) 100 dB (d) 160 dB 135.
7).The ‘acceptable’ noise level is:
(a) 85 dB (b) 90 dB (c) 95 dB (d) 100 dB 136.
8) Highest permissible intensity of sound is:
(a) 65 dB (b) 85 dB (c) 90 dB (d) 80 dB 138.
9) . Repeated exposure to_____ can cause permanent deafness is:
(a) 160 dB (b) 60 dB (c) 90 dB (d) 100 dB
10) . Upper limit of exposure to noise up to which there is no damage to hearing?
(a) 160 dB (b) 70 dB (c) 85 dB (d) 100 dB 140.
11) Upper limit of tolerance of noise/day is (decibel):
(a) 10 [RJ 2004] (b) 85 (c) 100 (d) 125
12) A person presented with hearing loss after 12 hours of noise exposure. This hearing loss
disappeared shortly afterwards. The frequency of noise is likely to be between the ranges of:
a) 1000 – 2000 Hz b) 2000 – 4000 Hz c) 4000 – 6000 Hz d) 6000 – 8000 Hz e) 8000 – 10,000 Hz
13) The upper limit of tolerance of noise without damage to hearing ability is:
a) 60 dB b) 85 dB c) 90 dB d) 100 dB
14) The acceptable noise level for hospital wards is
a) 45-50 d b) 40-45 dB, c) 35-40dB d) 20-35dB
15) Audiometer measures
a) Intensity of sound b) Noise in octave band c) Hearing ability d) Frequency of sound
16) Auditory fatique appears at
a) 85dB b) 65dB c) 90dB d) 100dB
17) Temporary hearing loss dccurs in frequency range of
a) 2000-4000 Hz b) 4000-6000 Hz ,c) 6000-8000 Hz, d) 8000-10000Hz
18) permanent loss of hearing occurs with continuous exposure of noise above
a) 60 dB, b) 80dB,c) 100dB d) 120dB
19) A rupture of an eardrum may occure at the noise level of
a) 120dB, b) 160dB, c) 90dB, d) 80dB
20) all are physiological changes caused by noise EXCEPT
a) Rise in blood pressure and heart rate , b) Pupillary dilatation, c) rise in intracranial pressure,
d) reduced night vision
21) noise pollution control can be achieved by
a) control of noise source, b) protection of exposed person, c) legislation d) All of the above
22) A person presented with hearing loss after 12 hours of noise exposure. This hearing loss
disappeared shortly afterwards. The frequency of noise is likely to be between the ranges of:
a) 1000 – 2000 Hz b) 2000 – 4000 Hz c) 4000 – 6000 Hz d) 6000 – 8000 Hz e) 8000 – 10,000 Hz
