Sound pollution -- a severe health hazard
Level of sound pollution (also termed as noise pollution) in Dhaka city is now a major concern for the general people because it has already exceeded the tolerance level. Because of this sound or noise pollution millions of people in the country are exposed to a number of health risks -- from deafness to heart attack. On city streets noise pollution can be caused by hydraulic horns of vehicles (the most harmful offenders), microphones and cassette players. The hydraulic horns used by buses, trucks and taxies in the crowded city streets are dangerous for human being. This is also how noise pollution in Dhaka City is affecting the hearing power of thousands of children everyday. Noise intensity is measured in decibel (dB) units. At 45 dB of noise the average person generally cannot sleep. At 120 dB the ear registers pain; hearing damage begins at a much lower level, about 85 dB. Experts say, if a child below three years of age hears a horn emitting 100 dB of noise from a close range, he or she might lose his or her hearing power. A child's health may also be adversely affected by loud sounds from the radio, television, cassette players and, not speak of, microphones, also the sound of mills and factories and any loud noise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), generally 60 dB sound can make a man deaf temporarily and 100 dB sound can cause complete deafness. Now the noise of any busy street in Dhaka has been estimated at 60 to 80 dB, with the sound of vehicles being 95 dB, loud speakers 90 to 100 dB, mills and factories 80 to 90 dB, restaurants and cinema halls 75 to 90 dB, festivals 85 to 90 dB, scooter or motorbike 87 to 92 dB and trucks and buses 92 to 94 dB. But the desired sound measure is 25 dB in the bedroom, 40 dB in the dining or drawing room, 35-40 dB in the office, 30-40 dB in the class room, 35-40 dB in the library, 20-35 dB in hospital, 40-60 dB in a restaurant and 45 dB in the city at night. When the sound exceeds this limit, there occurs noise pollution. Noise pollution beyond the limit destroys hearing and might even lead to the losing of one's mental balance. Noise pollution also causes peevish temperament, affects lungs, hampers the intellect of the children and makes them apathetic towards their studies. The DOE (Department of Environment) states that noise causes mental and physical illness among the people. It causes high blood pressure, headache, indigestion, tachycardia, peptic ulcer, and also affects sleep. Anyone may become deaf for the time being if 100 dB or more noise pollution occurs for half an hour or more in any place. Working in an atmosphere of loud noise for a long period can cause complete deafness to any person. Any sort of noise pollution seriously affects expecting mothers. It has been observed that pregnant mothers living near big airports give birth to more crippled, deformed and immature children than those living in other places. According to the DOE, the perfect sound condition for Bangladesh is 45 dB for daytime and 35 dB for the night in peaceful areas, 50 dB for daytime and 40 dB for the night in residential areas, 60 dB for the daytime and 50 dB for night in mixed areas (residential, commercial and industrial localities), 70 dB for daytime and 60 dB for the night in commercial areas and 75 dB for daytime and 70 dB for the night in industrial areas. While another survey of DOE shows that noise pollution has increased alarmingly in different parts of Dhaka city. This survey indicates that at Motijheel Government High School the noise level is 83 dB during daytime and 79 dB at night, at Azimpur Girls' College 80 dB during daytime and 74 dB at night, at Shaheen School the noise level is 83 dB during daytime and 74 dB at night, at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University 82 dB during day and 74 dB at night, at Dhanmondi Government Boys' School 80 dB during daytime and 75 dB at night, at Tejgaon Girls' College 75 dB during daytime and 67 dB at night, at Shishu Hospital 72 dB during the day and 69 dB at night, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital 80 dB during the day and 69 dB at night and at Mitford Hospital 76 dB during day and 73 dB at night. However, the following recommendations might be helpful in order to reduce the sound pollution at tolerance level: (1) Implementation of the Noise Control Rules, 2004; (2) Complete banning of the vehicular hydraulic horns in any place of the country; (3) Expanding the monitoring programmes at the main traffic points to determine whether the vehicles follow the orders or not; (4) Improving traffic control; (5) Relocating the bus/truck terminals out side of Dhaka city; (6) Banning loudspeakers from processions and out side meeting areas, high volume of audio players from roadside small business enterprises/shop; (7) Banning industrial activity in residential areas; (8) Establishing underground and overhead transportation system in the city; (9) Train movement within the city areas to Kamlapoor must also be restricted from 6am to 6pm. Beyond these hours all trains bound for Dhaka must terminate journey at Tongi, Uttara or Cantonment station; and (10) Enhancing public awareness of sound pollution. Although urbanization, industrialization and motorization are essential for economic development, urban people always intend for as much possible calm and quiet life. Noise pollution is a neglected issue in Bangladesh but it is a severe health hazard. For the physical and mental health of the urban people, particularly of the children, it is imperative for the decision makers, leaders, planners, engineers and concerned persons to keep the noise level within the acceptable limits. It is time for NGOs, the media, the related individuals and the government to work together to reduce the noise level so that in the long run people can eradicate noise pollution from the country once for all.
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