Noise pollution is a major and dangerous environmental threat to human health according to WHO. It can cause 16,600 premature deaths and over 72,000 hospitalizations in Europe each year. The main causes of noise pollution are traffic, air traffic, construction sites, bars/restaurants, and animals. Prolonged exposure to noise above 65dB can cause hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and sleep and learning disorders. Solutions include government regulations on noise limits, insulating buildings, and promoting active transportation to reduce traffic noise.

1. NOISE POLLUTION
BY BISWARANJAN SETHY

2. How to reduce the impact of an invisible
threat?
Atmospheric pollution is not the only type of
contamination that is harming living beings on
the planet. According to the World Health
organization (WHO),it is one of the most
dangerous environmental threats to health.And
according to the European Environment Agency
(EEA),noise is responsible for
16,600 premature deaths and more than 72,000
hospitalisations every year in
Europe alone .

3. Drivers honking the horn,groups of workers drilling the road surface, aircraft flying over us in
the sky..Noise,noise and more noise.cities have become the epicentre of a types of pollution,
acoustis,which, although its invisibility and the fact that coronavirus crisis reduced it until
almost yearn it, is severely damaging to human beings.So much so that the European
Environment Agency estimats that noise is responsible for 72,000 hospital and 16,600
premature deaths every year in Europe alone.
Not only does it hurt humans,it is bad for animals,too.According to the Natioal
Park service (NPS)in the United States.Noise pollution has an enormous environmental impact
and does serious damage to wildlife..

4. WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION?
Not all sound Is considered noise pollution.The world
Health organization
(WHO) defines noise above 65 decibels(db) as noise
pollution.To be precise,noise becomes harmful when it
exceeds 75decibels(db) and is painful
Above 120db. As a consequence,it is recommended
noise levels be kept below 65db during the day and
indicateds that restful sleep is impossible with
Nighttime ambient noise levels in excess of 30db.

5. CAUSES OF NOISE POLLUTION
There are many sources of noise pollution,but there are some of the main ones:
Traffic noise
Traffic noise accounts for most polluting noise in cities.for ex,a car horn produces 90db and a
bus produces 100db.
Air traffic noise
There are fewe aircraft flying over cities than there are cars on the roads,but the impact is
greater:a single aircraft produces 130db.
construction sites
Building and car park construction and road and pavement resurfacing works
Are very noisy.for ex,a pneumatic drill produces 110db.

6. Catering and night life
Bars, restaurants and terraces that spill outside when the
weather is good can produce more than 100db.This includes
noise from pubs and clubs
Animals
Noise made by animals can go unnoticed,but howling or
barking dog.for ex,can produce around 60-80db.

7. THE WORLD’S NOISEST CITIES

8. EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION
As well as damaging our hearing by causing-tinnitus or deafness-, constant loud noise can
damage human health in many ways, particularly in the very Young and the very old.Here
are some of the main ones.
Physical
Respiratory agitation,racing pulse,high blood pressure, headaches and,in case of extremely
loud, constant noise,gastritis,colitis and even heart attacks.
Psychologial
Noise can cause attacks of stress,fatigue, depression, anxiety in humans and animals.

9. Sleep and behavioural disorders
Noise above 45db stops you from falling asleep or sleeping properly.Remember that according to
the World Health organization it should
Be no more than 30db.Loud noise can have latent effects on our behaviour, causing aggressive
behaviour and irritability.
Memory and concentration
Noise may affect people’s ability to focus,which can lead to low performance over time.it is also bad
for the memory, making it hard to study.
Interestingly,our ears need more than 16 hours’rest to make up for two hours of exposure to 100db.

10. SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION
International bodies like the WHO agree that awareness of noise pollution is essential to
beat this invisible enemy.For ex:avoid very noisy leisure activities,opt for alternatives means
of transport such as bicycles or electric vehicles over taking the car, do your homework at
recommended times,insulate homes with noise-absorbing materials,etc.Educating the
younger generation is also an essential aspect of environmental education.
Governments can also take measures to ensure correct noise management and reduce noise
pollution.for ex:protecting certain areas-parts of the country side, areas of natural
interest,city parks.etc.from noise, establishing regulations that include preventive and
corrective measures-mandatory separation between residential zones and sources of noise
like airports fines for exceeding noise limits.etc.-installing noise insulation in new buildings,
creating pedestrian areas where traffic is only allowed to enter to enter to offload goods at
certain times.