How Does Noise Pollution Affect Our Health and Environment?
Environmental pollution is one of the most dangerous threats to human health. Whether it’s about the traffic, people talking on phones for 1-2 hours, loud music, driving horns, and many more have become a part of the urban culture. The extensive sounds in the environment lead to noise pollution that can cause hypertension, sleeping disorders, and even health-related issues. In this handout, you will find out the major causes and effects of noise pollution on human health.
What is meant by Noise Pollution?
Noise is an unwanted or unpleasant sound that bothers people. The presence of a large amount of unwanted noise can upset the balance of the environment and lead to noise pollution. Although advanced technology has made people's lives easier, it is undeniable that noise pollution is increasing rapidly as it progresses. The normal sound heard by the human ear is 1 dB. The range from 30dB to 140dB is very dangerous for people.
There are generally two types of noise pollution, namely; environmental noise pollution and man-made noise.
Environmental Noise: The kind of noise produced from the wide-range of environmental happenings refers to environmental noise. It can include thunderstorms, the mating calls of animals, and many more.
Man-made Noise: The sound created due to man-made activities refers to man-made noise and serves as the major reasons for noise pollution. It can include noise from vehicular traffic, construction work, household noise, and many more.
What are the Causes of Noise Pollution?
Industrialization: Most of the manufacturing companies and worldwide industries use big machines that can produce a large amount of noise. Apart from that, different equipment such as exhaust fans, compressors, grinding mills, and many more participate in producing big sound. The wide-ranging exposure to high levels of sound can damage the hearing abilities of the workers.
Transportation: Traffic serves as one of the major causes of sound pollution as numerous vehicles at the same time on the roads produce heavy noise. Apart from it, underground trains, airplanes flying over houses, and other transportation modes make it difficult for people to get adapted to high sound.
Construction Activities: The construction of buildings, stations, roads, dams, flyovers, and mining produces high noise. The sound produced can even hinder the hearing capacities of an individual exposed to the sound.
Social Events: Whether it’s a club, worship place, marriage, or any other social place, people usually create a nuisance that becomes the major cause of noise pollution. Playing songs on full volume can affect the hearing abilities of an individual who is frequently exposed to such sounds.
(image will be uploaded soon)
The picture shows how a man working at the construction site is irritated with excessive sound.
What are the Effects of Noise Pollution?
Hearing Difficulties: Any unwanted sound that human ears have not been assembled to filter can cause hearing problems. For the normal hearing range, man-made noises such as traffic horns, airplanes, jackhammers, and many more can be too loud. Continuous exposure to loud levels of noise can straightforwardly result in the damage of eardrums and hence loss of hearing. Additionally, it can decrease the sensitivity of human ears to sound.
Sleeping Disorders: The high levels of sound can disturb the sleeping pattern of an individual and thus can lead to uncomfortable and irritating situations. The late-night parties, loud music in marriages, or other events can affect neighbor’s night sleep. They can experience fatigue over the next entire day. It becomes necessary to take actionable measures and adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the effect of sound pollution.
Health-related Issues: Undoubtedly, too much sound in the working areas like construction sites, offices, and even in the homes can affect psychological health. Disturbance of sleep, hypertension, aggressive behavior, or stress can be associated with excessive sound levels. As a result, noise pollution can cause chronic health issues.
Cardiovascular Problems: The high-intensity sound can cause an increase in heartbeat rate and blood pressure as well. It is because extensive sound interrupts the normal blood flow and results in the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
How to Prevent Noise Pollution?
Sound pollution is dangerous to human health as it can result in loss of hearing, health issues, and many more. It has become a need of an hour to control the different causes of noise pollution. Some of the preventive measures to be taken to control noise pollution:
Large sounds like driving sirens in public places, including hospitals, teaching institutes must be banned.
It is essential to control the sound of music systems and should be limited to a desire.
The use of explosives in the forest, mining areas, and mountains should get banned.
FAQs on Causes of Noise Pollution: Key Factors & Solutions
1. What exactly is meant by noise pollution?
Noise pollution refers to any unwanted or disturbing sound that impacts the health and well-being of humans and other living organisms. It's essentially sound in the wrong place, at the wrong time. While it's invisible, its effects on stress, hearing, and overall health can be significant.
2. What are the main sources or types of noise pollution?
The main sources of noise pollution can be broadly categorised based on where they originate. Key examples include:
- Transportation Noise: From road traffic, aeroplanes, and trains.
- Industrial Noise: Caused by heavy machinery, generators, and manufacturing processes in factories.
- Household Noise: From appliances like washing machines, mixers, televisions, and loud music systems.
- Social Events: Use of loudspeakers during festivals, parties, and public gatherings.
3. How is the intensity of sound measured?
The intensity or loudness of sound is measured in a unit called decibels (dB). The human ear can hear sounds starting from 0 dB. A normal conversation is about 60 dB. Any sound consistently above 85 dB is considered harmful and can lead to permanent hearing damage over time.
4. What are some of the major health effects caused by noise pollution?
Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to several serious health issues. The most common effects are hearing loss, increased stress levels, high blood pressure, and sleep disturbances. It can also cause psychological problems like annoyance, anxiety, and difficulty in concentrating.
5. What are some simple examples of controlling noise pollution in daily life?
You can control noise pollution by using sound-absorbing materials like heavy curtains and carpets at home, ensuring doors and windows are properly sealed, and keeping the volume of stereos and televisions at a moderate level. Planting trees around your house also acts as a natural sound barrier.
6. What is the main difference between sound and noise?
The key difference lies in the listener's perception. Sound is a general term for any vibration that stimulates the auditory nerves and can be pleasant or neutral. Noise, however, is specifically defined as any sound that is unwanted, unpleasant, or disruptive. For instance, the sound of rain might be pleasant, but a loud, dripping tap at night is considered noise.
7. How does noise pollution affect animals and marine life, not just humans?
Noise pollution severely impacts animals. On land, it can interfere with their ability to find prey, avoid predators, and communicate for mating. In the ocean, noise from ships and sonar systems disrupts the natural navigation and communication of marine animals like whales and dolphins, which can lead to injury or death.
8. Can planting trees really help reduce noise pollution? How does this work?
Yes, planting trees is a very effective natural method for reducing noise. Trees and shrubs act as a natural sound barrier. Their leaves, stems, and branches absorb and deflect sound waves, preventing them from travelling far. A dense row of trees, often called a green muffler, can significantly lower noise levels from sources like traffic.
