Syllabus- Noise: Definition of noise and its
sources, effects on health and control
measures.
Learning objectives
[Link] noise.
[Link] its sources, effects on health and control
measures.
Noise: Unwanted sound - Subjective because
one man's sound may be another man's noise.
Better definition of Noise is...." Wrong sound, in
the wrong place, at the wrong time".
20th century - " Century of Noise“
Noise has become a very important "stress
factor" in the environment of man.
The term "Noise Pollution" has been recently
coined to signify the vast cacophony of
sounds that are being produced in the
modern life, leading to health hazards.
Sources: The sources of noise are many
and varied.
Automobiles, factories, industries, air-
crafts etc.
Near railway junctions, traffic round-
abouts, bus terminuses and airports.
Use of pressure horns, recreational
noise of loudspeakers with full volume
during festivities particularly at night
are other sources of noise production.
The domestic noises from the radios,
transistors, T.V sets - all add to the
quantum of noise in daily life.
Properties: 2 Important
1. Loudness or
insensity- depends upon
the amplitude of the
vibrations which
initiated the noise. 2. Frequency- Denoted
as Hertz (Hz)1 Hz = one
Loudness of noise is
wave per second The
measured in decibles
human ear can hear
(dB)
frequency from about
Normal conversation 20 to 20,000 Hz, but
produces 60-65 dB this range is reduced
Whispering 20-30 dB with age and other
subjective factors.
Heavy street traffic 60-
80 dB
Boiler factories about
120 dB
Effects of noise exposure: are of two type
(1) AUDITORY EFFECTS.
(a) Auditory fatigue: It appears in the 90 dB region and greatest at 4000 Hz. It may be
associated with side effects such as whistling and buzzing in the ears.
(b) Deafness: The most serious pathological effect is deafness or hearing loss. The
victim is generally unaware of it in early stages. The hearing loss may be temporary or
permanent. Temporary hearing loss results from a specific exposure to noise; the
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.
Repeated or continuous exposure to noise around 100 decibels may result in a
permanent hearing loss; in this, the inner ear damage may vary from minor changes in
the hair cell endings to complete destruction of the organs of Corti. When this occurs as
a result of occupation in industries, it is called 'occupational hearing loss'.
Exposure to noise above 160 dB may rupture the tympanic membrane and cause
permanent loss of hearing.
(2) NON-AUDITORY EFFECTS: These are:
(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 numberof 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 colour perception and reduce night vision.
(e) 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:
A variety of approaches may be needed to control noise. These include:
(1) CAREFUL PLANNING OF CITIES: Inplanning 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) the
separation of residential areas from the main streets by means of wide green
belts. House fronts should lie not less than 15 metres 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
intodwellings.
(2) CONTROL OF VEHICLES: Heavy vehicles should not be routed into
narrow streets. Vehicular traffic on residential streets should be reduced.
Indiscriminate blowingof the horn and use of pressure horn should be
prohibited.
(3) TO IMPROVE ACOUSTIC INSULATION OF BUILDING: From the
acoustic standpoint, the best arrangement isconstruction 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.
(4) 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 belaid down
between the installations and residential areas.
(5)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
(6) LEGISLATION: Many states have adopted legislation providing for controls which are
applicable to a wide variety of sources (4). Workers have the right to claim compensation if
they have suffered a loss of ability to understand speech.
(7) EDUCATION: No noise abatement programme can succeed without people's participation.
Therefore, their education through all available media is needed to highlight the importance of
noise as a community hazard.
Reference: [Link], Preventive and social medicine, 27th edition
