Environmental Health
Khizar Nabeel Ali
Pollution
Pollution means any contamination of air,
soil, water and environment.
Even loud noise and sound is also part of
pollution
Noise Pollution
In simple terms, noise is unwanted sound.
Sound that is unwanted or disrupts ones
quality of life such as working, sleeping,
and during conversations is called as Noise.
When there is lot of noise in the
environment, it is termed as noise
pollution.
Properties of sound
Sound is a sensation caused in the ear by
the vibration of the surrounding air or
other medium.
Loudness/Intensity: It depends on the
amplitude of vibration and measured in
decibels [dB].
CLASSIFICATION OF NOISE
There are two kinds of noise:-
1 Community Noise/ Environmental Noise
Indoor noise
Outdoor noise
2 Occupational Noise
1- COMMUNITY NOISE
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 noise include road, rail and air
traffic, construction and public work, and the neighborhood.
restaurant, cafeterias, 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 neighbours.
Sources of Noise Pollution
Outside
Construction
Road traffic
Airport
Factories / Industries
Inside
Phone
TV’s / radio
Appliances
Power tool / generators
lawn movers etc
Main sources is due to increasing population and
urbanization.
2-OCCUPATIONAL NOISE
The many and varied sources of noise in industrial machinery
and processes include: rotors, gears, turbulent fluid flow,
impact processes, electrical machines, internal combustion
engines, pneumatic equipment, drilling, crushing, blasting,
pumps and compressors.
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.
Measurement of Noise
Health Effects
Actually we hear with our brains, not with our ears alone
Ear cells send impulses to brain
Ear cells are extremely delicate
Damage to ear cells can result in hearing loss
Trauma – permanent
Noise induced damage - gradually become permanent.
Exposure & Time based
Health Effects
According to the USEPA, there are direct links between
noise and health. Also, noise pollution adversely affects the
lives of millions of people
Noise pollution can damage physiological and psychological
health.
High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep disruption,
hearing loss, and productivity loss are the problems related
to noise pollution.
It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and panic
attacks.
Other Problems of Noise Pollution
Hearing Aggressive
impairment behavior
Mental illness Sleep interference
Temporary or Stress
permanent deafness High blood pressure
EFFECT OF NOISE ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Globally, some 120 million people are estimated to
have disabling hearing difficulties.
In the USA in 1990 about 30 million people were
daily exposed to a daily occupational noise level
above 85 dB (production and manufacturing
industries).
In Germany, noise-related hearing impairment that
results in 20% or more reduction in hearing ability in
1993, nearly 12 500 new such cases were registered.
Effects on Animals
Damage to hearing
Can reduce chances of survival
Kangaroo rat
Physiological response
Harmony imbalance
Chronic stress
Behavioral response
Pains & Escape behavior
Responses Result in:
Decrease Food intake
Loss of energy
Abandonment of offspring
injury
Effect on marine life
Marine Mammals use Echolocations
Sonar
Explosive testing
Whales & Dolphins
Death occurring
Beaching Themselves
Military sonar has been responsible for the
deaths of possibly thousands of dolphins
and whales.
Noise standard of Pakistan
In Pakistan there is no legislation to deal with the
noise emanating from railways engines , air craft or
industrial or construction activity.
Public complaint are often received by federal &
provincial environment protection agencies.
in absence of national standard for noise . These
agencies are handicapped to take any legal action.
The situation is getting worse with increasing in
traffic density on city roads.
Pak-EPA
The Pakistan environmental protection
agency (PAK-EPA) exercising its power
under clause (d) of section 6(1) of the
Pakistan environmental protection
ordinance (PEPO), 1983 with approval of
established national environmental quality
standards (NEQS) for motor vehicles
exhausted and noise.
National standards for noise limits
No national standards for noise limits
prescribed for residential area, industrial area ,
commercial area or silence zone .
No national survey has been conducted to
assess noise level in cities. However random
tests in different cities showed that the noise
level in most of the areas was high as 70-90 dB
much higher the acceptable limits.
WHO Guideline on Community
Noise, 1999
Sound levels greater than 100 dB should be
limited in duration and frequency
Impulse noise exposure should never exceed
140 dB in adults
120 dB in children
Levels greater than 165 dB, even for a few
milliseconds, are likely to cause acute hearing
damage
(WHO Guideline on Community Noise, 1999)
Damaging levels of other sound
Solution for Noise Pollution
The 4 Core Concepts
Control of Noise Pollution
Spotting noise risk zone
Legislation to control noise pollution
Public awareness
By plantation
Reduce the noise at source level
Exchange of scientific knowledge
Solution for Noise Pollution
These are the set of strategies to reduce
pollution from noise
Avoid or limit your time in noisy areas.
Check home appliances regularly.
Use silencer in motor bikes.
Regular service and tuning of vehicles.
Solution for Noise Pollution
Plants are “Buffers” against noise pollution. So
increased plantation can reduce noise pollution
Buildings can be designed with suitable noise
absorbing material for the walls, windows, and
ceilings.
Workers should be provided with equipments such
as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.
Solution for Noise Pollution
Lubrication of machinery parts to reduce
noise
Legislation against use of horns and loud
speakers especially in crowded areas
Airports and factories should be located
away from residential areas
Solution for Noise Pollution
Community development or urban
management should be done with long-term
planning, along with an aim to reduce noise
pollution.
Social awareness programs should be taken up
to educate the public about the causes and
effects of noise pollution.
Role of Public health Professionals
