Noise Pollution In India

The term noise is defined as unwanted sound. The noise is tolerable for a short period of time but unacceptable when prolonged. Due to diversity and difference in opinion and faith it becomes very difficult to define noise in our country. The louder the sound is more likely is to be considered noise. Unfortunately, noise has not given enough importance in our country. The required instruments used for measurement of sound level have not yet fully developed in our country so the instruments are not easily available for measurement of sound level. However, there is an urgent need to monitor sound levels in large cities because of noise pollution becoming the major problem. It is important to mention here that being a developing country; we had

Unlike all other pollution causing components of environment (such as waste water, contaminated air and solid waste which accumulates and pollutes) sound/noise is not an element, compound or substance which can accumulate but, its action is instant. It is a special kind of wave-action usually transmitted by air, in the form of pressure waves and received by the hearing apparatus (ear) in the body of human beings and animals. Sound is the vibrating molecules in the air that reaches our ear, when this sound becomes unwanted and displeasing it is termed as noise. A developing country like India is facing several environmental problems like air water and noise pollution. Noise pollution is one of the major component of pollution in urban areas. Population growth leads to increase in traffic which results in increase in noise

The noise may affect in many ways, depending upon its frequency, intensity and duration. The peak values of impact noise affect the hair cells of hearing system, further it may affect human hearing power temporarily or permanently and introduce stress causing headache, mental fatigue and annoyance. Exposure to high intensity noise may raise heart rate, pulse and increase blood pressure. A part from above physiological effects many psychological effects like annoyance and irritation are quite common. Noise levels even slightly higher than moderate may cause sleeplessness and interfere with communication and recreation. Some of the important physiological and psychological effects which affect the human body are discussed in detail below:-

1. Auditory Effects: - Intense level of noise exposure can cause temporary or permanent damage to our ear. Like factory workers who are exposed to high noise levels over a long span. Noise level above 100 dB with continuous exposure creates adverse effect on the hearing ability and cause instantaneous damage to ear or acoustic trauma. Like explosions, bursting of fire crackers very near to the ear are the main causes of instantaneous