INTRODUCTION SOURCES PROPERTIES INSTRUMENTS MEASURING NOISE EFFECTS OF NOISE EXPOSURE CONTROL OF NOISE REFERENCES

o Noise is often defined as unwanted sound, but this definition is subjective.

o A better definition of noise is wrong sound, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
o The 20th century has been described as the century of noise .

o The term noise pollution has been recently called to signify the vast cacophony of sounds that are being produced in the modern life leading to health hazards.

 Automobiles Factories Industries Aircrafts Pressure horns Recreational noise of loud speakers with full volume

Radio

Transistors TV sets

The noise exhibits two properties: 1. Loudness or intensity

2. Frequency
LOUDNESS:

Loudness or intensity depends upon the amplitude of vibration which initiated the noise.

The loudness of noise is measured in decibels(dB).

FREQUENCY :
Frequency it is denoted as Hertz (Hz).

The human ear can hear frequencies from about 20 to 20000 Hz, but this range is reduced with age and other subjective factors.

The range of vibration below 20 Hz are infra -audible and those above 20000 Hz Ultra-sonic.

Sound level meter :

Which measures the intensity of sound in decibels.

Octave band frequency analyzer :

Which measures the noise in octave bands.

Audio Meter :
Which measures the hearing ability.

Effects of noise exposure are of two types :

Auditory

Non-Auditory
AUDITORY EFFECTS : Auditory fatigue :
It appears in the 90 dB region and greatest at 4000 Hz. It may associated with such as whistling and buzzing in the ears.

Deafness :
The more serious pathological effect is deafness or hearing loss. The hearing loss may be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss results from a specific exposure to noise. The disabilities disappears after a period of time up to 24hrs following the noise exposure . Most temporary hearing loss occurs in frequency range between 4000 to 6000 Hz The exposure to noise above 160 dB causes permanent loss of hearing

NON-AUDITORY : Interference with speech : Noise interferes with speech communication. The frequency causing disturbance to speech communication lie in the 300 to 500 Hz range. Annoyance : This primarily a physiological response. Efficiency : Where mental concentration is to be undertaken , a low level of noise always desired. Physical changes : A number temporary physical changes occur in the body as a result of noise exposure these are ; - Rise in blood pressure. - Rise in intracranial pressure and increase in heart rate, breathing and sweating. - General symptoms such as : giddiness, nausea, fatigue may also occur. - Noise interferes with sleep. - Noise is also said to cause visual disturbance. - Besides effective health noise is also significant factor in economic loss.

1. Careful planning of cities :

Division of city into zones with separation of areas concerned with industry and transport. The separation residential areas from the main street by means of wide green belts. Widening of main streets to reduce level of noise penetration into dwellings.

2.Control of vehicles 3.To improve acoustic insulation of builds 4.Industries and railways 5.Protection of exposed persons 6.Legislation

7.Education

 TEXTBOOK OF PREVENTIVE AND SOCIAL MEDICINE BY K.PARK