NOISE POLLUTION IV-B Marasigan, Sebial, Lastrilla, Mira, Labad, Paraso, Gayanelo

DEFINITIONS: NOISE: simply defined as “unwanted noise” (loud, unpleasant, distracting, etc.) NOISE POLLUTION: refers to the sounds in the environment that are caused by humans that interferes with naturally occurring sounds thus disrupting or even threatening wildlife and human activity

SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION: 1. Road Traffic Noise In the city, the main sources of traffic noise are the motors and exhaust system of autos, smaller trucks, buses, and motorcycles. This type of noise can be amplified by narrow streets and tall buildings, which produce a canyon in which traffic noise reverberates. 2. Air Craft Noise: Now-a-days. low flying military aircraft and aircraft operations over national parks, wilderness areas, and other areas previously unaffected by aircraft noise has added a new dimension to community annoyance.

3. Noise From Railroads: The noise from locomotive engines, horns and whistles, and switching and shunting operation in rail yards can impact neighboring communities and railroad workers. 4. Construction Noise: The noise from the construction of highways, city streets, and buildings is a major contributor to the urban scene. Construction noise sources include pneumatic hammers, air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks (and their back-up signals), and pavement breakers.

5. Noise in Industry: Although industrial noise is one of the less prevalent community noise problems, neighbors of noisy manufacturing plants can be disturbed by sources such as fans, motors, and compressors mounted on the outside of buildings. Interior noise can also be transmitted to the community through open windows and doors, and even through building walls. These interior noise sources have significant impacts on industrial workers, among whom noise- induced hearing loss is unfortunately common. 6. Noise In Building: Apartment dwellers are often annoyed by noise in their homes, internal building noise from plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, and fans. Improperly insulated walls and ceilings can reveal amplified music, voices, footfalls and noisy activities from neighboring units. External noise from emergency vehicles, traffic, refuse collection, and other city noises can be a problem for urban residents, especially when windows are open or insufficiently glazed.

7. Noise From Consumer Products: Certain household equipment, such as vacuum cleaners and some kitchen appliances have been and continue to be noisemakers, although their contribution to the daily noise dose is usually not very large.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION

HOW LOUD AND HOW LONG CAN HUMANS HANDLE? DECIBEL:MAXIMUM EXPOSURE:EXAMPLE: 858 hoursHeavy traffic; Noisy restaurant 884 hours hoursLawn mower; Hair dryer 941 hourMotorcycle 9730 minutes minutesChainsaw minutes minutes--

secondsRock concert seconds seconds seconds secondsThunderclap; Night club; Ambulance; Airplane taking off 1243 seconds second Less than 1 secondGun shot; Fire cracker; Jet take-off

-85 decibels are considered to be harmless o 10 dB – Breathing; 20 dB – Whispering; 40 dB – Fridge humming; 70 dB – Car ride 140 decibels is the highest possible sound to occur  when heard, immediate nerve damage can occur

HEALTH EFFECTS: 1. Hearing impairment: an increase in the threshold of hearing as clinically assessed by audiometry (in short, you lose your sense of hearing) Before you experience hearing loss, you experience TINNITUS, a ringing or buzzing in your ears after going to a party, or other really loud event and usually lasts until your ears gradually readjust to normal sound levels. But over time, too much exposure to loud noise can lead to a condition known as NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS (NIHL). The main source for NIHL are personal music players (iPods, MP3s, etc.) 2. Interference With Spoken Communication: Noise pollution interferes with the ability to comprehend normal speech and may lead to a number of personal disabilities, handicaps, and behavioral changes. These include problems with concentration, fatigue, uncertainty, lack of self confidence, irritation, misunderstandings, decreased working capacity, disturbed interpersonal relationships, and stress reactions. Some of these effects may lead to increased accidents, disruption of communication in the classroom, and impaired academic performance.

3. Sleep Disturbances: This causes mood changes, decrements in performance, and other long-term effects on health and well-being. It is known, for example, that continuous noise in excess of 30 dB disturbs sleep. For irregular noise, the probability of being awakened increases with the number of noise events per night. 4. Cardiovascular Disturbances: A growing body of evidence confirms that noise pollution has both temporary and permanent effects on humans (and other mammals) by way of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. It has been postulated that noise acts as a nonspecific biologic stressor eliciting reactions that prepare the body for a fight or flight response. For this reason, noise can trigger both endocrine and autonomic nervous system responses that affect the cardiovascular system and thus may be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

5. Disturbances in Mental Health: Noise pollution is not believed to be a cause of mental illness, but it is assumed to accelerate and intensify the development of latent mental disorders. Noise pollution may cause or contribute to the following adverse effects: anxiety, stress, nervousness, nausea, headache, emotional instability, argumentativeness, sexual impotence, changes in mood, increase in social conflicts, neurosis, hysteria, and psychosis

6. Impaired Task Performance: Noise pollution impairs task performance at school and at work, increases errors, and decreases motivation. Reading attention, problem solving, and memory are most strongly affected by noise. Two types of memory deficits have been identified under experimental conditions: recall of subject content and recall of incidental details. Both are adversely influenced by noise. Deficits in performance can lead to errors and accidents, both of which have health and economic consequences. 7. Negative Social Behavior and Annoyance Behavior: Noise has been used as a noxious stimulus in a variety of studies because it produces the same kinds of effects as other stressors. Annoyance increases significantly when noise is accompanied by vibration or by low frequency components. The term annoyance does not begin to cover the wide range of negative reactions associated with noise pollution; these include anger, disappointment, dissatisfaction, withdrawal, helplessness, depression, anxiety, distraction, agitation, or exhaustion. Lack of perceived control over the noise intensifies these effects

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: 1.Effects on Animals: Damages the central nervous system of animals Anxious behavior from animals in the form of trembling is observed when it is exposed to noise in high decibel levels Aircraft noise is responsible for a big decrease in reproduction activity in a wide range of animals The noise made by submarines, shipping companies and sonars make underwater animals experience discomfort High noise levels can negatively affect the breeding and feeding patterns of animals. The noise of commercial ships does not allow underwater animals to communicate properly. It can cause havoc on their reproductive function. 2. Effect on Properties: It creates waves which strike the walls and puts buildings in weak condition. It weakens the edifice of the buildings.

WAYS TO PREVENT OR MINIMIZE NOISE POLLUTION Understand what causes noise pollution: As the world becomes more advanced, noise increases. The most common form of noise pollution now is from transportation, mainly cars, motorbikes, and aircraft. Keep your vehicles in good condition: Check them regularly for any parts that have deteriorated and need to be replaced. Noise limits should be stated by government: to control the noise pollution from the industries and vehicles. Factories should use the machineries that make less noise: Replace all the machineries in the industries with the advanced ones that make less noise. Plant more and more trees around your house: Trees absorb the sound that is generated by the vehicles or any other appliances in your house and help in reducing the noise pollution. Listen to soothing music and prefer using headsets while hearing music. Spread awareness among people about the effects of noise pollution and encourage them to reduce noise pollution. Do not use car horns unnecessarily: Areas like hospitals and campuses are silence zones and honking is prohibited there. Turn off the engine of your car or motorbike when you are not using it. It stops the annoying hum.

SOURCES: causes.html causes.html decibel-levels/ decibel-levels/