ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Environmental Pollution
- Noise Pollution
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution, also known as sound pollution, is the propagation
of noise with varying impacts on the activity of human or animal
life, most of them harmful to a degree. Noise is an undesirable
and unwanted sound. Sound is measured in a unit called the
"decibel". Not all sound is noise. What may be considered music
to one person may be noise to another.
Noise may not seem as harmful as the contamination of air or
water, but it is a pollution problem that affects human health and
can contribute to a general deterioration of environmental quality.
It is not a substance that can accumulate in the environment like
most other pollutants.
Two Sources of Noise Pollution
There are several sources of noise pollution that contribute to both indoor and
outdoor noise pollution.
Outdoor Noise Pollution: Noise emanating from factories, vehicles,
loudspeakers, and the bursting of crackers during various festivals can
contribute to outdoor noise pollution. Transportation systems are the main
source of noise pollution in urban areas. Construction of buildings, highways,
and streets causes a lot of noise due to the use of air compressors, bulldozers,
loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.
Indoor Noise Pollution: Loudly played radios, music systems, and other
electronic gadgets can contribute to indoor noise pollution. Gadgets like food
mixers, grinders, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dryers, coolers, air
conditioners, can be very noisy and injurious to health. Others include loud
speakers for sound systems and TVs, ipods, alarms, and bells.
Effects of Noise Pollution
Noise pollution causes various physical and psychological problems.
Noise is more than a mere nuisance or annoyance. It definitely affects
the quality of life.
EFFECT ON PHYSICAL HEALTH
1. Deafness: Physical impairment to the ear and temporary or
permanent hearing loss are the most immediate harmful
effects of excessive loudness. The length and intensity of the
noise both affect how much hearing is lost.
2. High Blood Pressure: Excessive noise levels can harm the
circulatory system by raising blood pressure and changing
heart rates. Small children's physical health has been reported
to suffer from excessive loudness. The heart rates of children
from loud families are frequently much greater than those of
children from quieter homes.
EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH
1. Interference in speech communication: When young children are regularly
exposed to levels of noise that interfere with speech, they may develop speech or
reading difficulties because auditory processing functions are compromised.
2. Learning difficulty: Learning difficulties, mental tiredness, and lack of attention are
all major negative consequences of noise on health. When schools are located in
busy urban areas and experience noise pollution, it has been found that students
score poorly on tests when compared to students in quieter places.
3. Stress and aggression: Noise can also cause emotional or psychological effects
such as irritability, anxiety and stress.
4. Reduced productivity: Because noise disrupts normal auditory communication, it
may hide auditory warning signals and hence raise the accident rate, particularly in
industries. Additionally, it may result in decreased worker productivity and
efficiency as well as greater workplace accident rates.
EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Plants: Researchers recently found that noise has a lasting effect on
trees and plants. A study by scientists reveals that noise pollution affects
the diversity of plant life in an ecosystem. Plants and trees are being
harmed by noise pollution because they rely on animals that are sensitive
to noise for pollination and seed dispersal. According to a study, certain
plants appear to perform worse in loud environments, while others
appear to do better, depending on how the local animal population
changes. Noise also has detrimental effects on the growth of some plants
and can lead to poor crop yields.
2. Animals: Because birds and animals rely on hearing to locate prey,
noise has a significant impact on them. Noise can also lead to physical
and mental health problems in animals, like deafness, stress, increased
heart rate, and blood pressure. Marine scientists are concerned about
excessive noise made by oil drills, submarines, and other vessels on and
inside the ocean. Many marine animals, especially whales, use hearing
to find food, communicate, defend, and survive in the ocean. Excessive
noises are causing a lot of injuries and deaths to whales.
How can we reduce Noise Pollution?
The following are the top five methods for reducing noise:
1. Public awareness: Increasing public awareness about noise pollution by providing factual information
about it’s ill effects on our environment.
2. Reduce noise at the source - Reduce noise at its source by having your car tuned and serviced
regularly. This will help to cut down on noise pollution. It is important to promote the construction of
soundproof rooms for loud equipment in industrial and manufacturing facilities. This is crucial for
residential structures as well. Noisy equipment should be placed in a basement or garage, away from
bedrooms and living spaces.
3. Plant trees - The best way to decrease noise pollution is to plant shrubs and trees in and around
sound-producing sites. These plants absorb sound and lessen the impact it has on the region they are
planted in.
4. Increase the distance from the source: residential areas should be located far from noisy industries,
airports, bus terminals, and railway stations.
5. Ban noisy transportation - The use of horns indiscriminately, motorcycles with damaged exhaust
pipes, and noisy trucks will be prohibited and penalized.
Question
Part A
1. What is noise pollution?
2. List four examples each for outdoor and indoor noise pollutions.
3. What is the effect of noise pollution on plants?
4. How can planting trees and bushes reduce noise pollution?
5. List any two solutions to control noise pollution.
Part B
1. What are the two sources of noise pollution?
2. What are the effects of noise pollution on mental health?
3. What are the effects of noise pollution on plants and animals?
4. How can we reduce noise pollution?
5. How does noise pollution cause health problems in humans?
6. How are marine animals affected by noise pollution?
Part C
1. Write an essay on noise pollution.
