The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Noise pollution reaching alarming proportions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 28, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Noise pollution reaching alarming proportions

By S. Ganesan

TIRUCHI, JUNE 27. Noise pollution in the city is reaching alarming proportions, and studies undertaken by the faculty and students of the Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College have revealed that the ambient noise levels on the city roads are much higher than the Central Pollution Control Board norms.

The studies have found that the daytime noise level in some commercial, residential and school and temple zones are high, posing a serious health hazard to the residents. The studies are conducted annually over the past three years, and the noise pollution is found increasing every year, primarily owing to the manifold rise in the volume of traffic.

The studies were taken up by M. Lalitha, Reader, and V. Bhanumathy, Lecturer (Selection Grade), Department of Physics, with the help of post-graduate physics students of the college as part of their project works. The studies were taken up in nine major commercial centres in the city, and the latest study indicated that the daytime noise levels in all the centres were higher than the norms. The study was conducted with a hand level "sound level data logger" for 24-hour periods.

Chinthamani and the central bus stand were the most noise polluted areas in the city with the noise levels reaching a maximum of 104 decibels (dB) and 101.2 dB, much higher than the 65 dB prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board for commercial areas. The noise level at Srirangam was found to reach a maximum of 99.8 dB, followed by Ariyamangalam at 97.8 dB, Mambazhasalai 96 dB, Samayapuram Tollgate and Puthur Four Roads 95 dB and the Head Post Office area 92 dB.

Significantly, most of these places could not be classified as commercial areas, as many residential colonies lie abutting the trade centres. While the increasing vehicular density is found to be the main contributing factor for the high noise levels, "aggressive driving" in low gears and poor maintenance of vehicles have also played a major role.

The studies also found that the noise levels in temples, schools and hospitals, supposed to be "silence zones," were very high. The maximum noise levels at three of the city schools abutting the main roads was found to range between 74 dB and 89 dB. The recommended noise level for silence zones is 50 dB, and for residential areas, it is 55 dB.

A survey conducted among the school students and teachers to assess the impact of the noise pollution inside classrooms revealed that 71 per cent of the teachers and 70 per cent of the students were disturbed by the excessive noise. Forty-five per cent of the teachers said they suffered from headaches, while 52 per cent found it difficult to communicate to students in the noisy environment.

A separate study on the noise levels inside buses, which played tape recorders (mostly private buses), indicated that the noise level inside exceeded 100 dB. Interestingly, most of the young passengers and the crew claimed to enjoy listening music, unaware of the ill effects of the noise exposure.

A continued exposure to high noise levels could cause irreversible hearing impairment, besides affecting the health of the people, said Ms. Lalitha and Ms. Bhanumathi, speaking to The Hindu . It could also lead to behavioural changes and affect the biological functions of the body, they said. Research findings say that noise levels of above 80 dB could cause ailments such as headache, heart diseases, depression, deafness and even loss of appetite. Though noise pollution is the easiest to control, lack of awareness was a major impediment, they said.

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