Noise Pollution: Types, Causes, Effects & Control Measures

Noise Pollution is a form of sound energy that can be detrimental to the health of living organisms. It is also known as Environmental Noise. Sound is produced when any object vibrates and it propagates through air. Earlier, it was seen as merely an annoyance in day-to-day life, but now, Noise Pollution has proven to be the leading cause for issues such as Hypertension, Stress, Hearing Loss etc. Studies have also shown that high-frequency sounds adversely affect the surrounding flora and fauna.

Noise pollution can be from the traffic honking on the roads, drilling at construction sites, air traffic, night life, or even animals. This form of pollution is predominant in urban spaces. Noise pollution can also cause damage to breeding species, and rearing animals and is a potential cause for the extinction of many species. 

Read More: Ecology and Environment

Key Terms: Noise Pollution, Decibel, Noise, Hearing, Psychological Stress, nausea, vomit, sound

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What Is Noise Pollution?

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The word noise comes from the Latin word ‘nausea’, which meant ‘sickness’ accompanied by a desire to vomit. Noise is an unpleasant and unwelcome sound that causes discomfort in humans. The volume of a sound is measured in decibels (dB). The faintest sound that the human ear can detect is 1 Db. 

Noise pollution has become a concern with the growth in population. Vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines, loudspeakers, crackers, and other similar devices are among the major causes. When used at high volume, other appliances such as television, transistors, radios, and so on contribute to noise pollution.

Read More: Environmental Issues & Solutions

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Types of Noise Pollution

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The types of noise pollution can be classified as:

• Transport- defeaning noise from the increase in the number of vehicles on roads. This has caused hearing impairment among the elderly, headaches and stress.
• Neighborhood- Household gadgets, utensils, musical instruments, etc are a constant form of noise pollution.
• Industrial- Working in environments with high intensity sound producing machines damages the hearing in the workers.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Environemental Chemistry

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Causes of Noise Pollution 

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There are a number of factors causing Noise Pollution. Some of the major causes are listed below:

Automobiles

Traffic is a major source of noise pollution because many vehicles are on the road at the same time make a lot of noise. Apart from that, underground trains, planes flying over houses, and other modes of transportation make it difficult for people to adjust to loud noises.

Industrialization

The majority of manufacturing companies and industries around the world use large machines that can generate a lot of noise. Aside from that, various equipment such as exhaust fans, compressors, grinding mills, and many others contribute to the production of loud noise. Widespread exposure to high levels of sound can impair the hearing ability of the workers. 

Social Events

People usually create a nuisance in any social setting, whether it's a club, a place of worship, a wedding, or any other social gathering, which becomes the primary source of noise pollution. Full-volume music can affect an individual's hearing abilities if they are frequently exposed to such sounds.

Construction Activities

Buildings, stations, roads, dams, flyovers, and mining all generate a lot of noise. The sound produced can even impair the hearing abilities of those who are exposed to it.

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Effects of Noise Pollution

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Some of the harmful effects of noise pollution are listed below:

Hearing Problems

• Any undesirable sound that our ears are not designed to filter can cause health issues.
• Our ears can only take in a certain amount of sound before they become damaged.
• Noises created by humans, such as jackhammers, horns, machines, airplanes, and even automobiles, can be too loud for us to hear.
• Constant exposure to loud noise can easily damage our eardrums, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus, and deafness.
• It also lowers our sensitivity to sounds that our ears pick up unintentionally to keep our bodies in sync.

Physical Problems

Noise pollution can cause high blood pressure, headaches, racing pulses, respiratory agitation, and gastritis, colitis, and even heart attacks in those who are exposed to extremely loud, continuous noise.

Psychological Issues

• Excessive noise pollution in places like businesses, pubs, construction sites, and even our homes can harm our mental health. 
• Excessive noise levels have been associated with aggressive behavior, persistent stress, sleep disturbances, melancholy, weariness, hysteria, anxiety, and hypertension in people and animals.
• The amount of irritation rises as the volume of noise rises, and people become less and less patient.
• Later in adulthood, this can lead to more significant and long-term health issues.

Behavioral Changes and Cognitive Issues

• Noise affects people's brain responses and capacity to focus, which can lead to poor performance over time.
• When too much noise reaches the brain, it causes reduced response rates and dulls the mind, just as it does with other sound waves.
• It also affects memory, making studying difficult.
• For example schoolchildren who live near train stations or airports have difficulty learning.
• People who live near airports or busy highways have greater headaches, consume more sleeping medications and sedatives. They are more prone to minor accidents and seek mental care. 

Communication Problems

• High decibel noise can cause problems and interfere with person’s ability to communicate freely.
• This may lead to misunderstandings, and you may find it difficult to comprehend what the other person is saying.
• The constant loud noise might cause a severe headache and upset your emotional equilibrium.

Sleeping Disorders

• While it may not seem like much at this point, excessively loud environments are likely to disrupt your sleeping pattern, causing irritation and discomfort.
• You may encounter a variety of fatigue-related issues if you don't get enough sleep.
• This will have an impact on both your work and personal life.
• It is therefore essential that you have a good night's sleep to allow your body to rest properly.

Effects of Mating Calls on Species

Species that rely on mating noises to reproduce are frequently unable to hear these calls due to rising man-made noise. As a result, they are unable to reproduce, resulting in population decline. When migrating, others rely on sound waves to identify and navigate. When their sound cues are disrupted, they become easily disoriented and fail to move when they should. Animals are becoming louder to deal with the increased noise around them, potentially adding to pollution levels. This is why understanding noise pollution can help us reduce its environmental impact.

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Control of Noise Pollution

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Well-Planned Cities

Wide green bolts should be used to distinguish residential areas from important streets. The distance between the road and the front of the house should not be less than 15 meters. To limit noise penetration into residential areas, important streets should be expanded.

Improved Building Insulation

Rather than constructing a single enormous building, it is preferable to construct several smaller buildings. Buildings should be acoustically soundproof.

Vehicle Control

Heavy vehicles should not be driven through congested areas. On residential streets, vehicular traffic should be reduced. It should be illegal to use a pressure horn.

Legislation

Many states have enacted noise-control legislation. If a worker's capacity to understand speech has been impaired, they have the right to seek compensation. Legislative measures help keep social threats in check. 

Education & Awareness

To emphasize the importance of noise as a community danger, education is required. Education leads to awareness. The more people become aware of the threats caused by noise pollution, the more preventative measures can be taken by them. 

Read More: How is Ozone Layer Getting Depleted

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Previous Year Questions

1. The book ‘SIlent Spring’ is related to? [NEET 2015]

2. What is the level of sound that is considered hazardous? [NEET 1994]

3. Dobson’s Unit is used to measure the thickness of? [NEET 2021]

4. Which is a secondary pollutant?

5. Process of nutrient enrichment of water and subsequent loss of species diversity is? [AMUEEE 2014]

6. Natural Sources of air pollutiom are?

7. Which of the statement is correct?

8. The principal gas evolved from sludge digestion tank is?

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Things to Remember

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• Noise Pollution is defined as the release of unwanted, harmful sounds which negatively impact human health and the environment. 
• Vehicles, aircrafts, industrial machines, loudspeakers, crackers, etc. are among the major causes of noise pollution.
• When used at high volume, other appliances such as television, transistors, radios, also contribute to noise pollution.
• Noise Pollution can lead to Hearing and Physical Problems, Psychological issues, Behavioural changes and Cognitive issues, Sleeping Disorders, etc. 
• The levels of Noise Pollution can be reduced by implementing the following steps: Civic Planning, improving Building Insulation, Vehicle Control, Passing Appropriate Legislation, Raising Awareness through Education. 

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