CC604 Environmental Pollution and Control

Noise Pollution

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NOISE POLLUTION

4.1

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

4.2

Understand the standard of noise pollution

Understand the level of noise pollution
Learn noise pollution criteria
Know the sources of noise pollution
Understand the effects of noise pollution to human
Understand effects of noise pollution on environment
Understand noise pollution mitigation to reduce noise pollution, control noise pollution and
protect people from noise pollution
Know the method of sound insulation

Definitions

What is noise?
Noise is unwanted sound. Unwanted by whom? Whom is people. Peoples tolerance thresholds
to noise vary from individual to individual, with time, location.

What is sound?

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Noise Pollution

Sound is air pressure waves which human ears can detect. This is again a very human-centred
definition.

4.3

Noise levels

A decibel is the standard for the measurement of noise. The zero on a decibel is at the threshold
of hearing, the lowest sound pressure that can be heard, on the scale acc. To smith, 20 dB is
whisper, 40 dB the noise in a quiet office, 60 dB is normal conversation, 80 dB is the level at
which sound becomes physically painful.
Fig. 4.1 is a diagram showing the level in dB of some common noisy situations.

Figure 4.1 Common noise shown on a dB scale

4.4

Sources of noise pollution

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CC604 Environmental Pollution and Control

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution like other pollutants is also a by- product of industrialization, urbanizations and
modern civilization.
Broadly speaking, the noise pollution has two sources, i.e. industrial and non-industrial. The
industrial source includes the noise from various industries and big machines working at a very
high speed and high noise intensity.
Non-industrial source of noise includes the noise created by transport/vehicular traffic and the
neighborhood noise generated by various noise pollution can also be divided in the categories,
namely, natural and manmade. Most leading noise sources will fall into the following categories:
roads traffic, aircraft, railroads, construction, industry, noise in building, and consumer products.

Transportation Noise:

Road Traffic Noise

In the city, the main sources of traffic noise are the motors and exhaust system of autos,
smaller trucks, buses, and motorcycles. This type of noise can be augmented by narrow
streets and tall buildings, which produce a canyon in which traffic noise reverberates.

Rail Traffic Noise

The noise from locomotive engines, horns and whistles, and switching and shunting
operation in rail yards can impact neighboring communities and railroad workers. For
example, rail car retarders can produce a high frequency, high level screech that can reach
peak levels of 120 dB at a distance of 100 feet, which translates to levels as high as 138,
or 140 dB at the railroad workers ear.

Air traffic/airport Noise

Industrial Noise:

Construction Noise
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CC604 Environmental Pollution and Control

Noise Pollution

The noise from the construction of highways, city streets, and buildings is a major
contributor to the urban scene. Construction noise sources include pneumatic hammers,
air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks (and their back-up signals), and
pavement breakers.

Noise in industry
Although industrial noise is one of the less prevalent community noise problems,
neighbors of noisy manufacturing plants can be disturbed by sources such as fans,
motors, and compressors mounted on the outside of buildings. Interior noise can also be
transmitted to the community through open windows and doors, and even through
building walls. These interior noise sources have significant impacts on industrial
workers, among whom noise-induced hearing loss is unfortunately common.

Community Noise:

Noise in building
Apartment dwellers are often annoyed by noise in their homes, especially when the
building is not well designed and constructed. In this case, internal building noise from
plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, and fans, can be audible and annoying.
Improperly insulated walls and ceilings can reveal the sound of amplified music, voices,
footfalls and noisy activities from neighboring units. External noise from emergency
vehicles, traffic, refuse collection, and other city noises can be a problem for urban
residents, especially when windows are open or insufficiently glazed.

Noise from Consumer products

Certain household equipment, such as vacuum cleaners and some kitchen appliances have
been and continue to be noisemakers, although their contribution to the daily noise dose
is usually not very large.

4.5

Harmful Effects

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Noise Pollution

On human being, animal and property: Noise has always been with the human civilization but it
was never so obvious, so intense, so varied & so pervasive as it is seen in the last of this century.
Noise pollution makes men more irritable. The effect of noise pollution is multifaceted & inter
related. The effects of noise pollution on human being, animal and property are as follows:

It decreases the efficiency of a man

Regarding the impact of noise on human efficiency there are number of experiments
which print out the fact that human efficiency increases with noise reduction.

Lack of concentration
For better quality of work there should be concentration. Noise causes lack of
concentration. In big cities, mostly all the offices are on main road. The noise of traffic or
the loud speakers of different types of horns divert the attention of the people working in
offices.

Fatigue
Because of noise pollution, people cannot concentrate on their work. Thus they have to
give their more time for completing the work and they feel tiring.

Abortion is caused
There should be cool and calm atmosphere during the pregnancy. Unpleasant sounds
make a lady of irriative nature. Sudden noise causes abortion in females.

It causes blood pressure

Noise pollution causes certain diseases in human. It attacks on the persons peace of
mind. The noises are recognized as major contributing factors in accelerating the already
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existing tensions of modern living. These tensions result in certain disease like blood
pressure or mental illness etc.

Temporary of permanent deafness

Mechanics, locomotive drivers, telephone operators etc. All have their hearing.
Impairment as a result of noise at the place of work. Physictist, physicians &
psychologists are of the view that continued exposure to noise level above. 80 to 100 dB
is unsafe. Loud noise causes temporary or permanent deafness.

Effect on vegetation (Poor quality of crops)

Now is well known to all that plants are similar to human being. They are also sensitive
as man. There should be cool & peaceful environment for their better growth. Noise
pollution causes poor quality of crops in a pleasant atmosphere.

Effect on animal
Noise pollution damage the nervous system of animal. Animal looses the control of its
mind. They become dangerous.

Effect on property
Loud noise is very dangerous to buildings, bridges and monuments. It creates waves
which struck the walls and put the building in danger condition. It weakens the edifice of
buildings.

4.6

4.7

Noise Control Strategies

Any noise pollution problem can be viewed at three different levels:

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Noise Pollution

Example: You live in a very large city above a fairly shallow underground train line. The source
of noise/vibration is the rail/wheel interaction. The main transmission path is through the
ground to the foundations of your building. You are the receptor.

i.

Strategies tackling the source:

Reducing the noise emitted by the motor car engines, jet engines

Stopping the source at the most annoying time (e.g. no planes at night)

Tackling the source is usually the most effective way to resolve a noise problem.
However it is usually not easy to do (involve redesigning a whole engine) and may not
be cost-effective.

ii.

Strategies tacking the transmission:

Putting up sound barriers (roads)

Moving the source away from flat panels and corner (e.g. fans in ducts)

Putting the source in insulating enclosure (e.g. a noisy machine in a workshop)

Double glazing of all windows

Muffling of duct outlets

Cutting low frequency vibration/noise path with rubber pads (eg for building
foundations next to underground or for mounting a vibrating machine)

Cutting a transmission path is most effective when the source is not too large in which
case in can be enclosed. It is usually not cheap.
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Noise Pollution

iii.

Strategies protecting the receptor:

Earplugs

Ear defenders

Active Control

Removing the receptor (by automating her role)

The first two are cheap and easy in principle, they are not always ideal for comfort and
for other aspects of safety (like being able to hear a safety warning shouted by a
colleague). Also not easy to enforce (people can just forget to wear them) and if this is the
only remedial action taken against a dangerous noise level, the recipient bears the full
brunt of a noise when s/he does not wear the protection.
Active control is expensive and only work in specific spatial locations (some cars have
the drivers seat actively controlled to reduce the sound from the car at that location).

The ways to control noise level in worksites:

a)

Sound absorb equipment

A cost-effective way to reduce noise at a construction worksite is to buy quiet equipment.

When buying equipment always ask if there is a quieter way of doing the job.

When contractors buy quieter equipment the final determination often depends on
whether the noise reduction justifies the extra expense.

Example: if the quieter machine costs RM100 more and is 5 dB quieter, the extra cost of
RM20 per decibel reduced can be considered cheap noise control when compared to cost
of establishing a hearing conservation program or medical cost associated with noise
induced hearing loss.

Equipment in use should be the most suitable for the job. Avoid using equipment that is
over-powered and, conversely, avoid using under powered equipment.

In general, electronic powered equipment is quieter than diesel powered equipment and
hydraulically powered equipment is quieter than pneumatic power.
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Noise Pollution

b)

Retrofitting existing equipment with damping materials and mufflers.

Sound barrier / Sound protection

An effective way of reducing noise is to locate noisy equipment behind purpose-built

barriers.

The barriers can be constructed on the work site from common construction building
material (plywood, block, stacks or spoils).

Or the barriers can be constructed from commercial panels which are lined with sound
absorbing material to achieve the maximum shielding effect possible.

To be effective, the length of the barrier should be greater than its height.

The noise source should not be visible and barrier should be located as close as possible
to either the noise source or the receiver.

The distance between a noise source and noise receiver can be considered a barrier as
well. Doubling the distance from the noise source lowers the noise level by 6 dB.

c)

Maintenance

Maintaining your plant and equipment in good order not only increases its life, but makes
it safer to use and quieter.

Parts may become loose, creating more noise because of improper operation or scraping
against other parts. Loose and worn parts should be fixed as soon as possible.

Grinding noises may also occur as the result of inadequate lubrication.

It is especially important to provide proper maintenance of noise control devices which

are added or built into machinery.

Ideally, the worksite should have a system in place for checking and servicing the various
machines and power tools.

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Noise Pollution

d)

Work activity scheduling

Work activity scheduling are administrative means to control noise exposure. Planning
how noise sources are sited and organized on a work site can reduce noise hazards.

Whenever possible, stationary noise sources like generators and compressors should be
positioned as far as possible from noise sensitive receivers (workers, schools, residential
buildings).

When possible, stacks, spoils, and other construction material can be placed or stored
around noise sources to reduce the hazard to receivers.

Jobs can be rotated so that exposure time is limited. Transferring workers from a high
exposure task to a lower exposure task could make the employees daily noise exposure
acceptable.

In addition noisy equipment should not be run for periods longer than necessary and
should be switched off when not in use.

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