CHAPTER 8

Noise
DAC 10903

pollutio
n
 Generation of sound
Sound can defines as "the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing" .
Sound requires a source, a medium of transmission and receiver.
Source : an objects which is caused to vibrate by some external energy source.
Medium : substance which carries the sound energy from one place to another (air,
water or solid substance)

Receiver : Human ear to measure the sound

8.1 Characteristics of Sound

There are two important characteristics of

sound or noise
frequency & Amplitude
Frequency of Sound
Sound is the quickly varying pressure
wave travelling through a medium. When
sound travels through air, the
atmospheric pressure varies periodically.
The number of pressure variations per
second is called the frequency of sound,
and is measured in Hertz (Hz) which is 1 cycle
A
defined as cycles per second. Frequency

B
The higher the frequency, the more high-
pitched a sound is perceived. Frequency B > Frequency A
20 to 20,000 Hz, Human frequency
range Frequencies below 20 Hz are
infrasonic
Amplitude

intensity
x

Intensity: Amount of soundA

energy received per sec
Measurement for sound B

Unit is decibel (dB). Amplitude of B > A

The typical sound levels

measured in the surrounding are
as follows:
• library - 35 dB
• office - 60- 65
• normal traffic noise 70 - 80 dB
• Airport (plane take off) - 120 dB
“Noise is define as any undesirable human or
machine created noise which disturbs the
activity or balance of human or animal life”.

Noise can
also be
defined as
unwanted
sound
TYPE OF NOISE

Continuous noise
Noise that has the sound intensity between maximum and
minimum less than 3 dBA.

amplitude

changing of
amplitude < 3 dB

time
Fluctuation noise
Noise that has varying intensity levels from high to low over 3
dBA.

amplitude > 3 dB

time
Impulse noise
Noise that has high intensity within a short duration such as
the sound of a bullet shot.

amplitud >1s
e

< 0.5 s

time
Interval noise
Noise that occurs at certain durations and may repeat at
certain intervals

amplitude < 3 dB

< 3 dB

time
8.2 Sources of Noise
Pollution
“Noise Pollution” is classified into two major
categories:
1) Natural Sources
2) Anthropogenic Sources
a) Mobile Sources
b) Stationary Sources
Natural Sources
Noise pollution can affect the surrounding environment by causing
negative reactions in people and animals in that environment. While
nature is not in itself considered to be a creator of noise pollution, any
excessive noise from elements of nature can be overwhelming to nearby
inhabitants, and therefore be considered as such.
1) Insects:
Insects can be very noisy and therefore a natural form of noise pollution, e.g.; rickets
chirping on summer nights to the enormous swarms of Cicada that live around the world,
bugs can create a lot of noise.
2) Birds:
Birds are naturally noisy creatures, singing and chirping everywhere all the time, except
during times of the year when they migrate to cooler or warmer climates.
3) Animals:
The pets and animals that live on nearby farms can moo, bark, squeal, squawk, quack and
wail. These noises combined can certainly create noise pollution
4) Thundering and Lightening:
Thundering and lightening of clouds create intense noise which frightened the
people around.

5) Storms and High Winds:

High winds and storms can block out all other noise and cause fear in those
experiencing the storm, even if there is no threat.

6) Sound of waves:
Sound of waves on sea shore produce an intense noise on the shoreline areas.
Anthropogenic Sources:
There is a great amount of anthropogenic sources of noise pollution
such as..
1. Road Traffic Noise:
The main sources of traffic noise are the motors and exhaust
system of autos, smaller trucks, buses, and motorcycles.

2. Air Craft Noise:

Low flying military aircraft produces intense noise pollution and
gained public attention during the recent years.

3. Noise from railroads:

Rail car retarders can produce a high frequency, high level
screech that can reach peak levels of 120 dB at a distance of 30m,
which translates to levels as high as 138, or 140 dB at the railroad
 4. Construction Noise:
Different kind of equipment’s used in the construction produces
intense noise pollution
5. Noise in Industry:
Industrial noise is one of the less prevalent community noise
problems. Neighbours of noisy manufacturing plants can be
disturbed by sources such as fans, motors, and compressors etc.
6. Military exercises and Defense programmes:
Launching of rockets, explosions, shooting ranges and military
exercises are also causes intense noise pollution.
7. Mining operations:
Mining operations also create loud noise in the surrounding areas
of mining.
8. Public addressing tools:
Public addressing Tools also create intense noise pollution such as
uses of loud speakers etc.
9. Public Noise:
Noise produces in the public areas is too much intense such as in
the
parks, underground railway stations etc.
Mobile and Stationary sources of noise pollution:
Anthropogenic sources are further classified into two major
categories that is;
I. Mobile sources
II. Stationary sources

Mobile sources Stationary sources

Transportation Industrial noise
Rail roads Boilers noise
Air crafts Construction activities
Storms and Winds Generators
Vehicles Gas stations
8.3 Noise measurement
tools
8.4 Effects of Noise pollution
 Effects on Human
Noise can do Physiological and or / Psychological damage if
the volume is high or if exposure is prolonged.
Hearing Loss:
Loud noise damages fine hair cell in the ear. The vibration of these hair
cells is responsible for hearing of Sound by us, Since our body cannot
replace damaged hair cells. Permanent Hearing loss is caused by long
term exposure to loud noise.
Annoyance:
It creates annoyance to the receptor due to sound level fluctuations

Physiological effects:
The Physiological effects like breathing difficulty, rise in blood pressure,
migraine, headaches, constriction of blood vessels and even heart
attacks.
Human performance:
The working of humans will be affected as they will lose their
concentration
Nervous System:
It causes pain ringing in ears, feeling of tiredness, thereby effecting
functioning of human system
Sleeplessness:
It affects the sleeping thereby inducing the people to become restless and
loose concentration and presence of mind during their activities.
Effects on animals
Noise can cause serious damage to wild life. Ways in which animals are adversely
affected by noise pollution includes.
• Hearing loss
• Masking:
Masking is the inability to hear important environmental clues and animal signals
• Physiological effects:
Such as increase in heart rate, respiratory difficulties and stress.
• Behavioral effects:
Which could result in abandonment of territory and loss of ability to reproduce.
• Ecological effects:
It leads to migration of birds which disturbs the ecosystem
Effects on plants
The production capacity or growth of plant is affected due to high
level noise.
Damage to material:
The building and material may get damage by exposure to
infrasonic/ ultrasonic waves and even get collapsed.
LEGAL PROVISION RELATED TO NOISE

Factories and Machinery (Noise Exposure)

Regulation 1989
 Permissible exposure limit.
 Exposure monitoring.
 Methods of compliance.
 PPE for specific hearing protection.
 Audiometric testing program.
 Employee information and training.
 Warning sign.
 Record keeping
 Miscellaneous
LEGAL PROVISION – PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL)
• Action level (AL)
– 85 dBA

• PEL
– Continuous noise
 For 8 hours: 90 dBA
 Ceiling limit: 115 dBA
– Impulse noise
 Ceiling limit: 140 dBA
OCCUPATIONS AT RISK

Mining
Quarrying
Construction
Manufacturing
Textile
Etc.
HEALTH EFFECT

• Disturbed emotion and anger

• Communication problem
• Tinnitus
• Psychology pressure
• Increase of blood pressure
• Damage or loss of hearing
– Conduction type
 Damage to the ear drum
 Displacement of ossicle bones in the middle ear
– Neuro-sensory
 Damage to the hair follicles in the inner ears
 Loss of hearing due to over exposure to loud noise
 Normal cases: both ears
8.5 CONTROL MEASURES
• Engineering controls
– Substitution of less noisy equipment
– Isolation of noisy equipment from main area

• Administrative controls
– Proper risk assessment before purchase noisy equipment
– Reduction of exposure to noise
– Training and lectures
– Have written policy to ensure safe work practice
– Exposure monitoring
AUDIOMETRIC BOOTH

Audiometric
booth

audiometer

printer