Noise pollution

Sound is a form of energy which is emitted by a vibrating body and on reaching the ear causes the
sensation of hearing through nerves. Sounds produced by all vibrating bodies are not audible.
The frequency limits of audibility are from 20 HZ to 20,000 HZ.

A type of sound may be pleasant to someone and at the same time unpleasant to others. The
unpleasant and unwanted sound is called noise.

The intensity of sound is measured in sound pressure levels (SPL) and common unit of
measurement is decibel, dB. The SPL is logarithmic ratio of the sound pressure to a reference
pressure. If the sound levels are measured in terms of pressure, then, sound pressure level, LP is
given by,

Sources of noise
The sources of noise may be domestic (movement of utensils, cutting and peeling of
fruits/vegetables etc.) natural (shores, birds/animal shouts, wind movement, sea tide movement,
water falls etc.), commercial (vendor shouts, automobiles, aeroplanes, marriages, laboratory,
machinery etc.) industrial (generator sets, boilers, plant operations, trolley movement, transport
vehicles, pumps, motors etc.).
Effects of noise pollution on physical health
The most direct harmful effect of excessive noise is physical damage to the ear and the
temporary or permanent hearing loss often called a temporary threshold shift (TTS). Permanent
loss, usually called noise induced permanent
threshold shift (NIPTS) represents a loss of hearing ability from which there is no recovery. Some of
the adverse effects are summarized below:

Annoyance: It creates annoyance to the receptors due to sound level fluctuations. The aperiodic
sound due to its irregular occurrences causes displeasure to hearing and causes annoyance.
Physiological effects: The physiological features like breathing amplitude, blood pressure, heart-
beat rate, pulse rate, blood cholesterol are effected.

Loss of hearing: Long exposure to high sound levels cause loss of hearing. This is mostly
unnoticed, but has an adverse impact on hearing function.

Human performance: The working performance of workers/human will be affected as they'll be

losing their concentration.

Nervous system: It causes pain, ringing in the ears, feeling of tiredness, thereby effecting the
functioning of human system.

Sleeplessness: It affects the sleeping there by inducing the people to become restless and
loose concentration and presence of mind during their activities.

Damage to material : The buildings and materials may get damaged by exposure to infrasonic /
ultrasonic waves and even get collapsed.
Permitted noise levels

A standard safe time limit has been set for exposure to various noise levels. Beyond this ‘safe’
time continuing exposure over a period of a year will lead to hearing loss.
Noise Control techniques

There are four fundamental ways in which noise can be controlled:

• Reduce noise at the source,
• Block the path of noise,
• Increase the path length
• Protect the recipient.
In general, the best control method is to reduce noise levels at the source.

Noise Control at Source: The noise pollution can be controlled at the source of generation itself by
employing techniques like-
Reducing the noise levels from domestic sectors: The domestic noise coming from radio, tape
recorders, television sets, mixers, washing machines, cooking operations can be minimized by their
selective and judicious operation.

Maintenance of automobiles: Regular servicing and tuning of vehicles will reduce the noise
levels. Fixing of silencers to automobiles, two wheelers etc., will reduce the noise levels.

Control over vibrations: The vibrations of materials may be controlled using proper foundations,
rubber padding etc. to reduce the noise levels caused by vibrations.
Green belt development: Green belt development can attenuate the sound levels. The degree of
attenuation varies with species of greenbelt. The statutory regulations direct the industry to develop
greenbelt four times the built-up area for attenuation of various atmospheric pollutants, including
noise.
Using protection equipment: The usage of protective equipment and the worker's exposure to the
high noise levels can be minimised by –

Job rotation: By rotating the job between the workers working at a particular noise source or
isolating a person, the adverse impacts can be reduced.

Exposure reduction: Regulations prescribe that, noise level of 90 dB (A) for more than 8 hr
continuous exposure is prohibited. Persons who are working under such conditions will be exposed
to occupational health hazards.

Hearing protection: Equipment like earmuffs, ear plugs etc. are the commonly used devices for
hearing protection. Attenuation provided by ear-muffs vary widely in respect to their size, shape,
seal material etc. Literature survey shows that, an average noise attenuation up to 32 dB can be
achieved using earmuffs.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT: EARTHQUAKES, LANDSLIDES
The Indian subcontinent is very vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes,
landslides, avalanches and forest fires. Among the 36 states and Union territories in the
country,22 are prone to disasters.
Earthquakes are considered to be one of the most destructive natural hazards. About 50 to 60
percent of India is vulnerable to seismic activity of varying intensities. Most of the vulnerable
areas are located in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions.
From management to mitigation of disasters
Till very recently the approach towards dealing with natural disasters has been post disaster
management involving problems such as evacuation, warnings, communications, search and
rescue, fire-fighting, medical and psychiatric assistance, provision of relief, shelter, etc.

Natural occurrences such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, etc. will always occur. They are a part
of the environment that we live in. However destruction from natural hazards can be minimized
by the presence of a well functioning warning system combined with preparedness on part of
the community that will be affected.
Disaster management is a multidisciplinary area in which a wide range of issues that range from
forecasting, warning, evacuation, search and rescue, relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation
are included. It is also multi-sectoral as it involves administrators, scientists, planners, volunteers
and communities. These roles and activities span the pre-disaster, during disaster and post disaster
plans.
The early warning systems for a range of natural hazards are available at present however they
are not enough to ensure communities are safe from disasters. This is where disaster mitigation
can play an important role.
Mitigation means lessening the negative impact of the natural hazards. It is defined as sustained
action taken to reduce long term vulnerability of human life and property to natural hazards.

Bhuj Earthquake,2001

The main elements of a mitigation strategy are as follows:

a) Risk assessment and Vulnerability analysis: This involves identification of hot spot areas of
prime concern, collection of information on past natural
natural hazards, information of the natural ecosystems and information on the population and
infrastructure. Once this information is collected a risk assessment should be done to determine
the frequency, intensity, impact and the time taken to return to normalcy after the disaster.
The use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) a computer program can be a valuable tool
in this process as the primary data can be easily updated and the corresponding assessments can
be made.
Applied research and technology transfer
There is a need to establish or upgrade observation equipment and networks, monitor the
hazards properly, improve the quality of forecasting and warning, disseminate information quickly
through the warning systems and undertake disaster simulation exercises.

Public awareness and training

One of the most critical components of a mitigation strategy is the training to be imparted to the
officials and staff of the various departments involved at the state and the district level. The success
of a mitigation strategy will depend to a large extent on the inter-sectional, inter-departmental
coordination and efficient teamwork.
Institutional mechanisms
The most important need at the National level is to strengthen or develop the capacity to undertake
disaster mitigation strategies. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) establish in
1999 perform such a task.

Incentives and resources for mitigation

To a very large extent the success of mitigation programs will depend upon the availability of
continued funding. There is thus a need to develop mechanisms to provide stable sources of
funding for all mitigation programs.
Landuse planning and regulations

Long term disaster reduction efforts should aim at promoting appropriate land-use in the disaster
prone areas. Special maps for Costal regulation zones, earthquake prone region and river
flood plain should be prepared and introduced into land use planning.

Hazard resistant design and construction

In areas that are prone to disasters protection can be enhanced by careful selection of sites and
the way the buildings are built.
Structural and constructional reinforcement of existing buildings
It is also possible to reduce the vulnerability of existing buildings through minor adaptations or
alterations thereby ensuring their safety. This can be done by insertion of walls on the outside of
the building, buttresses, walls in the interior of the building, portico fill-in-walls, specially anchored
frames, covering of columns and beams, construction of new frame system etc.
Earthquakes and mitigation measures
Earthquakes occurs due to sudden movements of earth’s crust. The earth
crust has several tectonic plates of solid rock which slowly moves along with
their boundaries. Some time due to friction fracture formation take place along
the boundaries or fault line within the plate.
Mitigation measures:
The critical factors responsible for the high seismic risk in India has prioritized six sets of critical
interventions; as the six pillars of earthquake management. They are to:

1) Ensure the incorporation of earthquake-resistant design features for the construction of new
structures.

2) Facilitate selective strengthening and seismic retrofitting of existing priority and lifeline
structures in earthquake-prone areas.

3) Improve the compliance regime through appropriate regulation and enforcement.

4) Improve the awareness and preparedness of all stakeholders.

5) Introduce appropriate capacity development interventions for effective earthquake

management (including education training, R&D, and documentation).
6) Strengthen the emergency response capability in earthquake-prone areas.
Landslides and mitigation measures
Landslides occur as a result of changes on a slope, sudden
or gradual, either in its composition, structure, hydrology or
vegetation. The changes can be due to geology, climate,
weathering, land-use and earthquakes.

Landslides are recurring phenomena in the Himalayan

region. In the recent years however intensive construction
activity and the destabilizing forces of nature have
aggravated the problem.

mitigation measures: Some of the mitigation measures are:

1) preventing the exposure of population and facilities to landslides.

2) Developmental programs that involve modification of the topography, exploitation of

natural resources and change in the balance load on the ground should not be permitted in
the landslide prone region.

3) Some critical measures that could be undertaken to prevent further landslides are drainage
measures, erosion control measures such a bamboo check dams, terracing, jute and coir
netting.

4) Rock fall control measures such as grass plantation, vegetated dry masonry wall,
retaining wall and most importantly preventing deforestation and improving afforestation.