Noise pollution is caused by unwanted or disruptive sounds that negatively impact quality of life. Transportation systems are a main source of noise pollution in urban areas. Noise pollution can damage health by causing issues like high blood pressure, stress, sleep disruption, and hearing loss. Solutions include planting trees near sound sources, maintaining vehicles and machinery, installing soundproofing, and raising awareness of noise pollution's impacts. Mining also causes pollution through water depletion, contamination from chemicals like cyanide and acid mine drainage, removal of soil, and impacts from informal mining sectors. Stronger regulations, education, and balancing environmental and economic concerns are needed.

1. NOISE POLLUTION

2. WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION?
 Sound that is unwanted or disrupts one’s 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 can’t see, smell, or taste it.
 World Health Organization stated that “Noise must be
recognized as a major threat to human well-being”

3. HEALTH EFFECTS
 According to the USEPA, there are direct links between noise
and health. Also, noise pollution adversely affects the lives of
millions of people.
 Noise pollution can damage physiological and psychological
health.
 High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep disruption,
hearing loss, and productivity loss are the problems related to
noise pollution.
 It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and panic
attacks.

4. SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION
 Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution
in urban areas.
 Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot of
noise, due to the usage of air compressors, bulldozers,
loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.
 Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable state of
noise pollution.
 Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air
conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the existing
noise pollution.

5. SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE
POLLUTION
 Planting bushes and trees in and around sound generating
sources is an effective solution for noise pollution.
 Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles can effectively
reduce the noise pollution.
 Buildings can be designed with suitable noise absorbing
material for the walls, windows, and ceilings.
 Workers should be provided with equipments such as ear
plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.

6. SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE
POLLUTION
 Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery and
servicing should be done to minimize noise generation.
 Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to block
unwanted noise from outside.
 Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage of
play loudspeakers in crowded areas and public places.
 Factories and industries should be located far from the
residential areas.

7. SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE
POLLUTION
 Community development or urban management should
be done with long-term planning, along with an aim to
reduce noise pollution.
 Social awareness programs should be taken up to
educate the public about the causes and effects of noise
pollution.

8. MINING POLLUTION

9. Environmental and Social
Impacts of Gold Mining

10. Gold Production
• Gold production creates more waste per
ounce than any other metal
• At least 50% of gold produced worldwide is
used for cosmetic, non-essential purposes

11. Large-Scale Operations: Social Impacts
• Residents v.
corporations: an unfair
fight
• Protests often met with
violence/arrests
• Indigenous
communities especially
affected
• Does not bring
permanent economic
opportunity

12. Large-Scale Operations:
Water Depletion and
Contamination
• Large quantities of water needed
– Angostura Mine in Colombia: 250,000
liters of water to be used per hour
• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
• Cyanide contamination
– Sodium Cyanide solutions used in leaching:
300-600 mg/l
– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
maximum contaminant level: .2 mg/l
• Increased sediment in rivers

13. Acid Mine Drainage
Lara River in Honduras
- 300 gallons of cyanide
solution spilled
- 18,000 dead fish
- Contaminated 4.5km of
river

14. Large-Scale Operations: Soil
Removal
Open-pit mining and
mountain-top
removal require
huge quantities of
land to be displaced
– Often located in
protected forest
areas

15. Illegal/Informal Mining Sector
• Only source of income for many
• Miners frequently uneducated about health and
environmental effects of activities
• Dredgers destroy river habitats
• Widespread use of mercury
– Estimated 1,000 tons released annually

16. What can be done?
• Increased education for miners
• Increased communication between companies
and communities
• Strengthening monitoring and enforcement
mechanisms
• Balancing environment and economic concerns