Noise Pollution

WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION?

Sound that is unwanted or disrupts ones quality of life
is called as noise. When there is lot of noise in the
environment, it is termed as noise pollution.
Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the
normal activities such as working, sleeping, and during
conversations.
It is an underrated environmental problem because of
the fact that we cant see, smell, or taste it.

World Health Organization stated that Noise must be

recognized as a major threat to human well-being

How much db can a person take?

A person can take approximately up to 70
decibals before they are being disturbed which
can lead to physical and mental problems.

Air Raid Sirens (140 decibels)

Airplane Taking Off and Thunder (120 decibels)
Garbage Truck (100 decibels)
City Traffic and Truck Driver (90 decibels)
Alarm Clock and Hairdryer (80 decibels)

Noise Pollution: Sources and Types

It is broadly divided into two parts:
Industrial
Non-Industrial Noise

Industrial Noise
Noise produced by industries is called Industrial
Noise. In general it is produced, at every stage in
industry by various aspects like welding,
hammering, drilling, blowing, running machinery,
motors, sheet metal work, lathe machine work,
operation of cranes, grinding, turning, riveting,
fabricating, forging, compressing, vaccumising,
breaking, moulding, steaming, boiling, cooling,
heating, venting, painting, pumping, packing,
transporting etc. It creates very serious of largescale noise problems; significantly affect the
working people as well as surrounding people.

Non Industrial Noise

Further types of non-industrial-noise

Road Traffic Noise
Rail Traffic Noise
Aircraft Noise
Residential & Community Noise

Road Traffic Noise

Road traffic is the most widespread source of noise
in all countries and the most prevalent cause of
annoyance and interference. It is directly
proportional to the volume of vehicles. Increasing
of population is increasing of vehicles and hence
increasing of Noise pollution. The major sources of
noise in automobiles are exhaust, intake, engine
and fan, and tires at high speed. The noise output
of all components increases with speed. As an
example, keeping all the conditions same, an
approximately 10 dB (A) increase with speed of a
car from 30mph to 60mph.

The Road traffic noise not only depends on

volume of vehicles and also depends on
several factors, some of them are below:
Road Conditions
Traffic Clearance
Condition of Vehicles

Speed of the Vehicle

Rail Traffic Noise

Noise from the trains includes 1) diesel Exhaust 2)
Engine and Air Intake 3) Cooling Fans 4) Wheel-rail
interaction 5) Electric generator and electric traction
motor 6) miscellaneous noise generated in freight and
passenger cars etc. Other intermittent noises includes
car impact sounds when trains are braking and
accelerating and the sounds of sirens or horns that
produces 10 to 20 dB (A) higher than from other
sources. The noise generated in communities having
long haul or rapid transit vehicles (like Metros) in their
environment will depend primarily on track observer
distance, frequency and train length and condition of
track. The rapid transit trains are short, so that their
noise duration time is much less than that of goods
trains. Rapid transit vehicles produce lower level of
noise than compare to lengthy trains.

Aircraft Noise
Noise from commercial aircraft is only a problem
around airports as this is where aircraft converge at
low altitude and high engine power. Increasing air
traffic with different types of aircrafts and city
expansion will exacerbate the noise problems. Noise
pollution of an aircraft will increase with the speed.
The aircraft noise reduction; traffic and flight path
restrictions can alleviate them.
The invention of supersonic aircrafts has added more
noise for the plight of persons who live near
aerodromes. Taking off and landing of an aircraft
produces unbearable noise.

Residential & Community Noise

In normal day to day activities, various home appliances
in our residences produce noise. Some of the major sources
are Exhaust Fans, lawn movers, mixis, grinders, Fan, Cooling
& Heating System, T.V & Music System, motors used for
pumping etc.
Community noise is one of the major sources for affecting a
large number of people living within the community. It
occurs due to various activities of community during
religious festivals, fairs, marriages, or public functions. The
use of amplifiers provides one of most frequent sources of
disturbances. Loudspeaker systems are in almost continual
use at many open-air events

Impacts of Noise

Noise is defined as unwanted sound.

Noise pollution makes men more irritable.
The effect of noise pollution is multifaceted &
inter related.
The impacts of noise on human being, animal
and property are as follows.

Impact of noise on human

(1) It decreases the efficiency of a man

Regarding the impact of noise on human

efficiency, there are number of experiments
which point out the fact that human efficiency
increases with noise reduction.

Thus human efficiency is related with noise.

16

(2) Lack of Concentration

For better quality of work there should be
concentration.
Noise causes lack of concentration.
In big cities, mostly all the offices are on main
road, the noise of traffic or the loud speakers of
different types of horns divert the attention of
the people working in offices.
PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

17

(3) Fatigue
Because of noise pollution, people cannot
concentrate on their work.

Thus they have to give their more time for

completing the work and they feel tiring

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

18

(5) It causes Blood Pressure

Noise pollution causes certain diseases in human.
It attacks on the persons peace of mind. The
noises are recognized as major contributing
factors in accelerating the already existing
tensions of modern living.
The tensions result in certain disease like blood
pressure or mental illness etc.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

19

(6)Temporary or Permanent Deafness

The effect of noise on audition is well recognized
in Mechanics, locomotive drivers, telephone
operators etc.
All have their hearing impairment as a result of
noise at the place of work.
Physicist, physicians & psychologists are of the
view that continued exposure to noise level above
80 to 100 dB is unsafe.
Loud noise causes temporary or permanent
deafness.
PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

20

Impact of Noise on Animals

Noise pollution damage the nervous system of
animals.
Animal looses the control of its mind.
They become dangerous.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

21

Control of Noise Pollution

The techniques employed for noise control can be
broadly classified as
(1) Control at source
(2) Control in the transmission path .

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

22

(a) Reducing the noise levels from domestic

sectors

The domestic noise coming from radio, tape

recorders, television sets, mixers, washing
machines, cooking operations can be
minimized by their selective and judicious
operation.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

23

(b) Maintenance of automobiles

Regular servicing and tuning of vehicles will
reduce the noise levels.
Fixing of silencers to automobiles.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

24

(c) Control over vibrations

The vibrations of materials may be controlled
using proper foundations, rubber padding etc., to
reduce the noise levels caused by vibrations.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

25

(d) Low voice speaking

Speaking
at
low
voices
enough
for
communication reduces the excess noise levels.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

26

(e)Prohibition on usage of
loud speakers
By not permitting the usage of loudspeakers in
the habitant zones except for important meetings
or functions.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

27

(f) Selection of machinery

Optimum selection of machinery tools or
equipment reduces excess noise levels.
For example selection of chairs, or selection of
certain machinery / equipment which generate
less noise (sound) due to its superior technology.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

28

(g) Maintenance of machines

Proper lubrication and maintenance of machines,
vehicles etc., will reduce noise levels.
For example, it is a common experience that,
many parts of a vehicle will become loose while
on a rugged path of journey.
If these loose parts are not properly fitted, they
will generate noise and cause irritation to the
driver/passenger.
PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

29

(2) Control in the transmission path

The change in the transmission path will increase the
length
of
travel
for
the
wave
and
get
absorbed/refracted/radiated
in
the
surrounding
environment.
The available techniques are:
(a) Installation of barriers
(b) Installation of panels
(c) Green belt development

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

30

(a) Installation of barriers

Installation of barriers between noise source and receiver
can attenuate the noise levels.
The barrier may be either close to the source or receiver
subjected .

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

31

Barrier

Receiver

Source

Barrier close to source

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

32

Barrier

Source

Receiver

Barrier close to receiver

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

33

(b) Installation of panels or enclosures

A sound source may be enclosed with a paneled
structure such as room as a means of reducing the noise
levels at the receiver.
The actual difference between the sound pressure levels
inside and outside an enclosure depends not only on the
transmission loss of the enclosure panels but also on the
acoustic absorption within the enclosure and the details
of the panel penetrations which may include windows or
doors.

PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

34

(c) Green Belt Development

Green belt development can reduce the sound

levels.
The degree of reduction varies with species of
greenbelt.
The legal regulations direct the industries to
develop greenbelt four times the built-up area
for attenuation of various atmospheric
pollutants, including noise.
PH 0101 UNIT 1 LECTURE 9

35