ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

FIELD WORK REPORT ON

NOISE POLLUTION
SURENDRANATH COLLEGE

Name of the Student: Sadaf Parveen

Course: B.COM (HNS) Year: 2017
College Roll No: 120
C.U Registration No: 115-1221-1254-14
C.U Roll No: 1115-51-0042

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my teacher

who give me the golden opportunity to do my study on
‘NOISE POLLUTION'. I am also grateful to him for his
exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant
encouragement throughout the course of my project. Last
but not the least, I wish to avail myself to this opportunity to
express a sense of gratitude and love to my friends and my
beloved parents for their moral support, strength, help and
encouragement.

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 CONTENTS

Serial. No PARTICULARS PAGE. NO

1. INTRODUCTION 4-5

2. MEASUREMENT OF NOISE 6-7

3. TYPES OF NOISE 8-15

POLLUTION
4. EFFECTS OF NOISE 16-17
POLLUTION ON HEALTH

5. TABLE DESCRIBING THE 18

EFFECTS OBSERVED IN
VARIOUS DECIBEL
6. COMMON CAUSES OF 19-20
NOISE POLLUTION

7. PREVENTION OF NOISE 21
POLLUTION

8. LEGAL ASPECTS FOR 22

CONTROLLING NOISE
POLLUTION

9. CONCLUSION AND 23
REFRENCES

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 INTRODUCTION

Noise pollution or noise disturbance is the disturbing or

excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of
human or animal life. There are many sources which creates
noise pollution.
Noise Pollution is one of the major environmental concerns
in India today and sadly many people are unaware of the
hazards it can cause. It is very unfortunate that we all are
subjected to some form of loud noises for a considerable
amount of time, during the day.
It is a daily dilemma to bear with the unnecessary havoc
created by the blowing of horns on the roads, the madness
created by the loudspeakers, the festive-time expression of
happiness, any procession being carried through the streets,
that too much of background scores of Indian melodramatic
serials creating a mess in almost every household.
In Diwali lots of crackers are burned which create Noise
Pollution. Now-a-days, a part from Diwali, weather it is a
marriage or it is about being winning any match, bursting
loud cracker has become a ritual.

The decadal growth of the Urban Population in India rose to

31.8% during the last decade (2001-2011). Rapid
urbanization has led to various public health challenges,
including environmental pollution. Most activities that cause

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pollution are essential to meet the needs of the growing
population and development.
Some preventive measures to minimize pollutants are more
practical than their elimination. Noise is regarded as a
pollutant under the air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981.
Noise consist of unpleasant obtrusive, annoying, distracting,
or persistent sounds that interfere with sleep or the ability to
concentrate or enjoy life.
Noise is an underestimated threat that can cause a number
of short- and long- term health problems. It is increasingly
becoming a potential hazard to health, physically and
psychologically, and affects the general well-being of an
individual.

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 Measurement of Noise
The response of the human ear to sound depends both on
the sound frequency (Hertz) and the sound pressure
(Decibels). The range of hearing by a healthy young person
is 20-20,000 Hz. There is individual variability in the
sensitivity to different frequencies. Sensitivity to higher
frequencies decrease with age and exposure to noise.
Noise exposure at one time can occur from various sources,
therefore the average sound pressure level over a specific
time period is usually measured.

A widely used scale to measure sound pressure levels is the

weighting scale, “A-weighting.” It correlates with the
subjective response of auditory system, and is expressed as
decibels in A-Scale (dBA). Though it is simple and
convenient to use, it has limitations of poor predictability.
Measurement of noise is done by noise level meters, at
locations where people work. Noise dosimeter, which is worn
by the person, has the advantage over noise level meter, of
capturing the average noise exposure even while moving
around.
Impulse sound level meters are preferably used for
measuring impulsive sounds, as their short integration time

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is appropriate for the short integration time of the cochlea,
where injury from noise exposure occurs.
To control the generation of noise by various sources in the
environment, the Central Pollution Control Board, under the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India
has set standards of sound for different categories of areas
(residential, commercial, industrial and silence zones),
separately for day-time and at night. It has also set
permissible noise limits for vehicles at the manufacturing
stage and noise standards for firecrackers.
Recently, on 23rd March 2011, the Central Pollution Control
Board established phase I of the Real Time National Ambient
Noise Monitoring Network. It covers 35 locations in seven
metro cities (Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow,
Bangalore, and Chennai). It is a part of the implementation
of the National Environmental Policy-2006 (section 5.2.8
[IV]), under which ambient noise is included as an
environmental quality parameter. By phase II and phase III,
160 locations spread over 25 cities in 18 states will be
established.

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Types of Noise Pollution
There are two major types of noises that lead to pollution in
their own ways. They are:-
Community Noise
2. Industrial Noise
3. Non-Industrial Noise

1. Community Noise
Community noise which is also known as Environmental
Noise, Residential Noise, or Domestic Noise. It is defined as
noise emitted from all sources, except noise at the industrial
work place. Major source of Community Noise are
automobiles, construction, work, loudspeakers, recreational
activities, fireworks, etc.
Magnitude of Community Noise
Pollution
Several studies have been conducted in various parts of the
country to assess the ambient noise level. Majority of the
total environment noise is caused by motor vehicle.
Day time noise levels measured along roads between two
campuses of a University in Balasore, Orissa, ranged from
70.1 dB(A) to 120.4 dB(A) which are above the permissible
limits for road traffic noise (70 dB[A]).
Noise generated by different vehicles was also measured.
None of the vehicles emitted within the permissible limits for
road traffic noise.

2. INDUSTRIAL NOISE
Noise produced by industries is called Industrial Noise. In
general it is produced, at every stage in industry by various
aspects like welding, hammering, drilling, blowing, running

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machinery, motors, sheet metal work, lathe machine work,
operation of cranes, grinding, turning, riveting, fabricating,
forging, compressing, vaccumising, breaking, molding,
steaming, boiling, cooling, heating, venting, painting,
pumping, packing, transporting etc. It creates very serious of
large-scale noise problems, significantly affect the working
people as well as surrounding people.
It is sound with high intensity sound caused by industry
machines. Sources of such noise pollution are caused by
machines from machines in various factories, industries and
mills. Noise from mechanical saws and pneumatic drills is
unbearable and a nuisance to the public.
The Indian InAs mechanical noise is the major part of
industrial noise and is due to machinery of all kinds and
often increases with the type of operation and power
capacity of the machines.

The characteristics of industrial noise vary considerably

depending on specific industrial process. High noise levels
common in petrochemical, steel industries, thermal power
stations, cement industries, and mines etc., can be due to
presence of unsteady force and it’s structural elements
caused by moving parts, vibration of heavy equipments,
sound from engines, gear, bearings, rotating and
reciprocating machines, combustion, fans, pressurized flow,
during shifting of raw materials and end products, trucks and
dumpers etc.stitute of Oto-Rino Laryngology, Chennai
reported that increasing industrial pollution damages the

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hearing ability by at least 20%. Workers in steel industry,
who work close to heavy industrial blowers, are exposed to
112dB for eight hours suffer from occupational pollution.

Non – Industrial – Noise

Road Traffic Noise
Road traffic is the most widespread source of noise in all
countries and the most prevalent cause of annoyance and
interference. It is directly proportional to the volume of
vehicles. Increasing of population is increasing of vehicles
and hence increasing of Noise pollution. The major sources
of noise in automobiles are exhaust, intake, engine and fan,
and tires at high speed. The noise output of all components
increases with speed. As an example, keeping all the
conditions same, an approximately 10 dB (A) increase with
speed of a car from 30mph to 60mph. The Road traffic noise
not only depends on volume of vehicles and also depends
on several factors, some of them are below: Road
Conditions
Traffic Clearance
Condition of Vehicles
Speed of the Vehicle
Common Sense
The people living near roadside (highway) are mainly
exposed.
Rail Traffic Noise
Noise from the trains includes 1) diesel Exhaust 2) Engine
and Air Intake 3) Cooling Fans 4) Wheel-rail interaction 5)
Electric generator and electric traction motor 6)
miscellaneous noise generated in freight and passenger cars
etc. Other intermittent noises includes car impact sounds
when trains are braking and accelerating and the sounds of
sirens or horns that produces 10 to 20 dB (A) higher than

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from other sources. The noise generated in communities
having long haul or rapid transit vehicles (like Metros) in their
environment will depend primarily on track observer
distance, frequency and train length and condition of track.
The rapid transit trains are short, so that their noise duration
time is much less than that of goods trains. Rapid transit
vehicles produce lower level of noise than compare to
lengthy trains.

Aircraft Noise
Noise from commercial aircraft is only a problem around
airports as this is where aircraft converge at low altitude and
high engine power. Increasing air traffic with different types
of aircraft’s and city expansion will exacerbate the noise
problems. Noise pollution of an aircraft will increase with the
speed. The aircraft noise reduction; traffic and flight path
restrictions can alleviate them.
The invention of supersonic aircrafts has added more noise
for the plight of persons who live near aerodromes. Taking
off and landing of an aircraft It has been observed that
supersonic jet planes are one of the biggest irritants in
today’s noisy world. The noise of these planes may
sometimes break windowpanes, crack on walls and shakes
the buildings also. By these effects of noise one can very
easily understand that what would be the effects of such
noise on human body produces unbearable noise.

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It has been observed that supersonic jet planes are one of
the biggest irritants in today’s noisy world. The noise of these
planes may sometimes break windowpanes, crack on walls
and shakes the buildings also. By these effects of noise one
can very easily understand that what would be the effects of
such noise on human body.

Residential & Community Noise

In normal day –to – day activities, various home appliances in our
residences produce noise. Some of the major sources are Exhaust
Fans, lawn movers, maxis, grinders, Fan, Cooling & Heating
System, T.V & Music System, motors used for pumping etc.
Community noise is one of the major sources for affecting a large
number of people living within the community. It occurs due to
various activities of community during religious festivals, fairs,
marriages, or public functions. The use of amplifiers provides one
of most frequent sources of disturbances. Loudspeaker systems
are in almost continual use at many open-air events.
Loudspeakers and amplified music are violently used in
unrestricted way at restaurants, marriage functions, and clubs,
religious and festive gatherings and even in sale of lottery tickets.
There is also the perennial problem of the use of portable radios
and cassette players on beaches or in places where either people
have gone in search of peace and quiet. Most of the problems,
which occur in public, originate from these main sources:
Amplified sound i.e. loud speakers, public gatherings and festivals;
Indecency behavior of people; Rash driving with various kinds of
horns / music with unnecessary use in vehicles.

Frequency Weighting

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Our hearing is less sensitive at very low and very high
frequencies. In order to account for this, weighting filters can
be applied when measuring sound. The most common
frequency weighting in current use is “A-weighting” providing
results often denoted as dB (A), which conforms
approximately to the response of the human ear. A “C-
weighting” is also used, particularly when evaluating very
loud or very low frequency sounds.
At home and at work, we often hear noise from ventilation or
heating systems that is hardly noticeable because it has no
prominent features. The noise never stops and has no tone,
but if the fan suddenly stops or starts to rotating, the change
may disturb or even annoy us. Our hearing recognizes
information in the sounds that we hear. Information we don’t
need or want is noise. Noise features that make us listen
and take notice are tones or changes in sound level. The
more prominent the tone, and the more abrupt the change in
sound level, the more noticeable the noise. Ambient noise is
the noise from all sources combined — factory noise, traffic
noise, birdsong, running water, etc.

Continuous Noise

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Continuous noise is produced by machinery that operates
without interruption in the same mode, for example, blowers,
pumps and processing equipment. Measuring for just a few
minutes with hand-held equipment is sufficient to determine
the noise level.

Intermittent Noise
When machinery operates in cycles, or when single vehicle
or aero plane pass by, the noise level increases and
decreases rapidly. A single passing vehicle or aircraft is
called an event.

Impulsive Noise
The noise from impacts or explosions, e.g., punch press or
gunshot, is called impulsive noise.

Tones in Noise
Annoying tones are created in two ways: Machinery with
rotating parts such as motors, gearboxes, fans and pumps
often create tones. Unbalance or repeated impacts cause
vibration that, transmitted through surfaces into the air, can
be heard as tones. Pulsating flows of liquids or gases can
also create tones, caused by combustion processes or flow
restrictions.

Low Frequency Noise

Low frequency noise has significant acoustic energy in the
frequency range 8 to 100 Hz. Noise of this kind is typical for
large diesel engines in trains, ships, and power plants and,
since the noise is hard to muffle and spreads easily in all
directions, it can be heard for miles.

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Typical Noise Levels
Compared to the static air pressure (105 Pa), the audible
sound pressure variations are very small ranging from about
20 µPa (20 × 10-6 Pa) to 100 Pa. 20 µPa corresponds to the
average person’s threshold of hearing. It is therefore called
the threshold of hearing. A sound pressure of approximately
100 Pa is so loud that it causes pain and is therefore called
the threshold of pain.

A direct application of linear scales (in Pa) to the

measurement of sound pressure leads to large and unwieldy
numbers. And, as the ear responds logarithmically rather
than linearly to stimuli, it is more practical to express
acoustic parameters as a logarithmic ratio of the measured
value to a reference value. This logarithmic ratio is called a
decibel or dB (A). The advantage of using dB (A) can be
clearly seen in the illustration in the picture on the next page.
Here, the linear scale with its large numbers is converted
into a manageable scale from 0 dB (A) at the threshold of
hearing (20 µPa) to 130 dB (A) at the threshold of pain (100
Pa).

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 EFFECTS OF NOISE
POLLUTION ON HEALTH

Unfortunately, being exposed to noise pollution can

have some serious effects on your health. The effects
can worsen if your exposure to the noise pollution is
something that you deal with regularly or even daily.
Below are some of the most common health effects
associated with noise pollution:
 Headaches and migraines: The most common
short-term effect of noise pollution is a headache
or migraine. The constant annoyance of noises can
often lead to painful headaches, which can make
focusing difficult for some people. In the case of
migraines, people may also experience sensitivity
light or nausea as well.
 Stress: A potential short- or long-term effect of
noise pollution is stress. Some studies suggest that
noise pollution coming from neighbors’ homes tends
to be one of the biggest causes of noise pollution-
related stress.
 Hearing loss: Over time, some people experience
hearing loss as a result of noise pollution. The loss of
hearing occurs when structures of the inner ear are
damaged, which could occur once noises reach or
exceed about 85 decibels.
 Loss of sleep: As mentioned above, noise
pollution above 45 decibels wakes up most people,

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 while light sleepers could be affected by noises at
lower decibel levels. A loss of sleep can lead to a
wide range of health conditions; including
exhaustion, irritability, and loss of focus or even a
weakened immune system.
 Hypertension: In many cases, regular exposure
to noise pollution has been shown to elevate blood
pressure levels. This type of hypertension could be
due to the adrenaline of being annoyed at the noises
being heard or with stress associated with being
constantly interrupted in whatever a person is doing,
whether it is work or sleep.
 Stroke: Those who are exposed to road traffic
regularly often display an increased risk of stroke. This
was especially more apparent in individuals over the
age of 65.

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Table Describing The Effects
Observed In Various Decibels:

Source of sound Noise Level (dB)

Jet airplane, 100 feet 140
away
Air raid siren, nearby 125
Rock music, amplified 120
Riveter 95
Busy street traffic 70
Conversation in home 65
Quiet radio in home 65
Rustle of leaves 10

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 Threshold of hearing 0
Whisper 20

COMMON CAUSES OF
NOISE POLLUTION
In modern society, transportation systems – including cars,
trains and airplanes – are one of the most common sources
of noise pollution since they can be particularly loud and
unrelenting in certain areas. In general, people who live in
urban centers are more likely to be exposed to noise
pollution due to population density and the increased
presence of the transportation systems described above.
Living in an urban city may also mean that people are more
exposed to the noises of construction, which is another
major source of noise pollution.
While those in larger cities are more likely to experience
noise pollution, those in rural settings may also experience
this problem as well. A key example of rural noise pollution is
farming, which may include a variety of machines that
produce harsh or loud noises. Additionally, things like barking
dogs or neighbors playing loud music can also be sources of
noise pollution.

Some of the example is:-

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1. Fire crackers: Fire crackers are exploded to make
huge sound during celebrations and festive occasions. It is
common sight to witness the firing of crackers at live
concerts.

2. Transportation vehicles: Noise pollution is

severest in the cities. The different modes of transportation
(land, air and water), such as motor-cars, buses, trains,
trams, airplanes, etc. produces sound that disturbs human
mind.

3. Microphones: The unrestricted use of

microphones during social and political events.

4. Loud speakers: During social events and other

festive occasions, people use loud speakers in unjustified
manner.

5. Factories and industries: In large cities, there

are large number of factories, mills and industries.
These industrial sites produce immense environmental noise
to disturb the habitats of nearby residential areas.

6. Domestic appliances: Even at homes, people

use large number of domestic appliances such as grinder,
mixer, juicer, etc.

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 Prevention of Noise
Pollution
Some effective measures should be taken too solve the
problem. The following measures can be taken to prevent
noise pollution:

 To prevent and control noise pollution it is necessary to

create public awareness. Only law is not sufficient.
People must be made aware of the harmful
consequences of noise pollution.
 People should be made aware that excessive
noise beyond certain limits may cause deafness.
 They should know that injuries caused by sound
pollution are often irreversible.
 There should be minimum use of sound producing
instruments. There should be proper regulations for the
use of loudspeakers and other devices that
produce noise beyond that are beyond the toleration
limits of human-beings.
 The Pollution Control Board and the High Court have
already taken effective measures to bring sound

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 pollution under control. Adequate measures should be
taken to ensure that noise related restrictions are not
violated.
 Anti-pollution laws should be enacted and enforced.
 Ban of fire crackers should be imposed and electric
horns should be replaced by bulb horns.

Legal Aspects For Controlling

Noise Pollution
 Constitution of India guarantees right to life, right to
information, right to religion and noise.
 Section 133 empowers human being to remove a public
nuisance on a conditional or permanent order.
 Noise Pollution Control Rule 2000 under Environment
Protection Act 1996 involves controlling the growing
problem of noise pollution.
 Factories Act Reduction of Noise and Oil of Machinery
limits for noise exposure in the work zone.
 Motor Vehicle Act involves the use of horn and change
of fault engines.
 Indian Penal code deals with the health and safety
issues caused by the noise pollution. One can be
penalized under law of torts.

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 Conclusion
Increasing level of noise pollution has created the urgent
need of general awareness about the sources, effects and
preventive measures of the noise pollution. High level of
noise should be prohibited in the areas like working places,
educational institutes, residential areas, hospitals, etc. Young
children and students should be motivated to not get
involved in the high sound producing acts like use of high
sound generating equipments and instruments on the
occasions. Use of high level sound generating fire crackers
should be reduced during the occasions like festivals,
parties, marriages, etc. Subjects related to the noise
pollution should be added into textbooks and activities can
be organized in the schools like lectures, discussion, etc so
that new generations can be more aware and responsible
citizens.

REFRENCES
 www.noisepollution.com
 www.noiseeffect.com
 www.pollution.com
 www.noisepollutionimage.com
 Various Newspapers, Journal, Magazines and
Websites.

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