ENV 307 ENV 307

Air Pollution Prevention and Air Pollution Prevention and

Control Control
Mkoma S.L. (Ph. D) and Chambile Mkoma S.L. (Ph. D) and Chambile
E.L (M Sc)
LECTURE 3a LECTURE 3a
NOISE POLLUTION NOISE POLLUTION
Causes, effects and prevention
Loudness of sound
=> => The level level of sound.
- measuring unit: decibel
- The higher the decibel, the louder
is the sound.
written as dB written as dB written as dB written as dB
- Can be measured with a decibel decibel
meter meter.
- The following photos show two different The following photos show two different
kinds of decibel meters: kinds of decibel meters:
Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception
100
example example example example
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
perception perception perception perception
very quiet sound
the lowest sound level that can be heard
breathing sound (10 dB)
quiet
0
10
30
60
80
100
example example example example
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
perception perception perception perception
100
Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception
quiet
0
10
30
60
80
100
soft conversation in
libraries (30 dB)
acceptable
Normal conversation (60 dB)
soft raining (50 dB)
100
annoying annoying
example example example example
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
perception perception perception perception
Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception
quiet
0
10
30
60
80
100
acceptable
noisy
Alarm clock (80 dB)
busy traffic (70 dB)
annoying annoying
100
very noisy
damage our damage our
ears ears
crying baby (100 dB)
Passing train (90 dB)
example example example example
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
perception perception perception perception
Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception
annoying annoying
quiet
0
10
30
60
80
100
noisy
crying baby (100 dB)
Passing train (90 dB)
acceptable
annoying annoying
100
example example example example
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
perception perception perception perception
Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception
annoying annoying
very noisy
damage our damage our
ears ears
Road drilling (120 dB)
Music in clubs (110 dB) Music in clubs (110 dB)
0
10
30
60
80
100
quiet
noisy
acceptable
annoying annoying
100
Flights taking off (130 dB)
example example example example
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
sound sound
level (dB) level (dB)
perception perception perception perception
Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception Sound level and humans perception
annoying annoying
very noisy
damage our damage our
ears ears
0
10
30
60
80
100
quiet
noisy
acceptable
annoying annoying
=> => annoying sound
- Noise is a kind of pollution pollution.
It is a common problem in crowded towns,
municipalities or cities.
Noise
We can enjoy some sounds as music.
However, can also be annoying noises.
There are many people but less space There are many people but less space
in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya,
Mwanza or Morogoro etc. Mwanza or Morogoro etc.
Noise pollution is a problem Noise pollution is a problem
There are many people but less space There are many people but less space
in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya,
Mwanza or Morogoro etc. Mwanza or Morogoro etc.
Noise pollution is a problem Noise pollution is a problem
Can you give some examples of
sources of noise in Morogoro?
Construction site Construction site Construction site Construction site
Repairing Repairing
house house
Repairing Repairing
house house
Road traffic Road traffic Road traffic Road traffic
??? ??? ??? ???
??? ??? ??? ???
house house house house
Road drill Road drill Road drill Road drill
??? ??? ??? ???
??? ??? ??? ???
-There are many loud sounds in our
surroundings, some we often use.
-What are these objects?
-How do they affect us?
Effects of noise pollution
-annoying
-bad tempered
-- increases the heartbeat rate and
blood pressure
-- disturbs our sleep
-- causes mental stress etc
-- disturbs our sleep
-- difficult to concentrate
- Hearing sound level at 80 dB for a long time,
e.g. in restaurants, bars, music shops e.g. in restaurants, bars, music shops e.g. in restaurants, bars, music shops e.g. in restaurants, bars, music shops
- Hearing sound level at 130 dB 130 dB makes our ears
feel pain feel pain,
=> may cause temporary or permanent damage
to our ears.
feel pain feel pain,
- When sound level reaches 150 dB 150 dB,
=> because the eardrum vibrates too
vigorously.
=> causes damage to the eardrum or ear
bones, make us go deaf.
According to an investigation done by a
group of Australian scientists in 1998:
Wear headphones to listen to music for more than 6 Wear headphones to listen to music for more than 6
hours a week, the sense of hearing will decrease by hours a week, the sense of hearing will decrease by
30 years. 30 years.
=> For studies of Noise pollution in Various
Environments in Tanzania you may read
Minja et al., 2003; Mbuligwe, 2004; ; Samagwa
et al., 2009; Moshi et al., 2010
Protecting our ears
1 1 Avoid listening to loud music for
a long time.
How can How can noise pollution be controlled be controlled?
a long time.
22 Stay away Stay away from noisy places.
33 Wear ear protectors when working
at noisy places
We should wear an ear protector when We should wear an ear protector when
working at a noisy place working at a noisy place
To work in a place at sound level To work in a place at sound level
higher than 90 dB for more than 8 higher than 90 dB for more than 8
hours without break hours without break
To work in a place at sound level To work in a place at sound level
higher than 90 dB for more than 8 higher than 90 dB for more than 8
hours without break hours without break
-- read on laws and regulations of noise read on laws and regulations of noise
- Residential areas close to the highways
are protected by noise barriers
People must be People must be the responsible responsible to reduce noise
pollution in their immediate environments