NOISE HAS become a very
important “stress factor” in the environment of human being. The term “noise
pollution” has been recently used to signify the hazard of sounds which are
consequence of modern day development, leading to health hazards of different
type.
Continuous exposure to high decibel (dB, the unit of loudness) noise can result
in some adverse effects on your health. One of these hazards is acoustic trauma
to the ears caused when they are subjected to the sound of an intensity of 85 dB
or more without respite.
The health hazards of noise pollution can be categorized into physiological and
psychological hazards. While the former includes hearing loss, hypertension,
disturbance in sleep patterns etc., the later includes problems such as
annoyance, aggression and stress.
According to a medical health guide lines, although high levels of noise for
short time can lead to noise induced hearing loss early but usually 10 years of
exposure is generally required for significant hearing loss to occur. This is
preventable but irreversible. Hearing impairment is an increase in the threshold
of hearing. Most commonly, noise-induced hearing loss involves injury to inner
ear structures, particularly stereo cilia, the hair cells, and therefore known
as a sensory neural hearing loss. Stereo cilia can be temporarily damaged by
noise above 90dB and permanent damage occurs with longer exposure. Excessive
noise exposure during fetal life may result in high-frequency hearing loss in
newborns. It can also cause tinnitus i.e. a ringing, roaring, buzzing, or
clicking in the ears.
Most recent in human beings the major negative impact is insomnia (sleep
disturbance) which is root cause of many diseases, although more research is in
progress. Healthy sleep is a prerequisite for good physiological and mental
functioning. It may cause increased blood pressure, changes in heart rate and
increased fatigue which may also lead to a devastating stress related
conditions, noise above 80dB may increase aggressive behavior.
Although most developed nations have government agencies responsible for the
protection of the environment, no nation has a single body that regulates noise
pollution. Transportation noise is usually regulated by the relevant
transportation ministry, health-related work noise is often regulated by health
ministries and worker’s unions, and entertainment noise such as loud music is a
criminal offence in many areas. Little is currently being done to reduce noise
pollution in developed countries.
In Pakistan, this fact is proven by various studies in some major cities but the
problem of noise pollution is also present in many smaller cities, from where no
data is available.
Road traffic noise is another most widespread source of noise nuisance in the
urban areas of Pakistan. The situation is getting alarming with increase in
traffic density on city roads, particularly in Karachi and Lahore.
According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provincial governments
started campaign against noise pollution and use of pressure horns by public and
private vehicles in different cities is thoroughly checked. In the province of
Khyber Pakhtun khwa, during the whole campaign (1999 to 2002) total 3,804
pressure horns were removed from 6,068 vehicles in 178 working days. Moreover,
this Agency have been checked 6630 rickshaw for noise pollution during Jun 1997
to 2005, in which 3,979 did not qualify the National Environmental Quality
Standards (NEQS), which is 85 dB, while 2,651 rickshaws qualified NEQS.
According to a medical research of Pakistan (2008) almost 75 per cent of public
drivers in Lahore are affected by noise pollution, but for other cities no
action were taken now still mostly drivers use all types of horns to make their
way easy to road.
Government of Punjab constituted a committee to address the issue of use of
pressure horns in trucks and buses. Several meetings of related authorities had
been held in the past and practically more than 80 per cent illegal horns were
removed from intra city route buses of Lahore.
According to different reports the average noise recorded level dB(A) in
Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Peshawaris 72.5, 72,
72.5, 72.5, 76.5, and 68.2 respectively. Whereas, recommended exterior noise
standards are 50 to 55 dB(A).
But what do governments do in a proactive way to inform their citizens about
control of pollution. Under Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change – which was agreed in 1992 and entered into force in 1994 –
nearly 200 governments agreed to promote actions to develop and implement
“educational and public awareness programs on climate change and its effects”
according to Pakistan Motor Vehicle Rules – 1969’s section 154, 155 and 158; its
government’s responsibility to control all types of noise pollution.
At government level no sufficient efforts are doing to reduce noise pollution,
so its public‘s responsibility to take steps to control this pollution hazards.
There is a dire need for legislation to control increasing noise pollution which
is not only destroying our environment but also affecting our daily life.