Here is a compilation of essays on ‘Noise Pollution’ for class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Noise Pollution’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Noise Pollution
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Introduction to Noise Pollution
- Essay on the Sources of Noise Pollution
- Essay on the Effects of Noise Pollution
- Essay on the Industrial Noise Pollution
- Essay on the How Loud is “Too Loud” for Your Hearing?
- Essay on the Noise Pollution in India and Other Countries
- Essay on the Controlling Noise Pollution
Essay # 1. Introduction to Noise Pollution:
Noise is derived from Latin word nausea, meaning unwell stomach with an urge to vomit.
Ironically, the subject of noise pollution is one of the most silent of all forms of pollutions. But, this little spoken-about form of pollution is nevertheless causing as many health issues as the other forms of pollution do. Here is a brief synopsis of the various causes, health effects and control measures of noise pollution.
Sound that is undesirable for human hearing is called as noise. When there is a lot of noise in the environment, it constitutes what is known as noise pollution. Noise pollution can be caused due to various sources – there is street noise, traffic noise, noise in public transport places, noise in playgrounds and parks, noise in the shopping malls, noise in workplaces… the list is endless. One of the greatest sources of noise pollution is the airports, and anyone staying close to an airport will attest to that.
Essay # 2. Sources of Noise Pollution:
Sound is measured in a unit known as decibels. Though there is no fixed particular decibel limit to decide when sound becomes noise, it is understood that a continuously high decibel limit will constitute noise pollution. Some areas do designate their own sound limits, which of course vary from one legislation to another. In the United States, most states have a sound limit of 65 dB in the daytime and 55 dB in the nighttime, applicable to the streets. Anyone crossing this limit would be causing noise pollution.
However, all these designated sound limits are too ambiguous, because most appliances we use in factories as well in the household go much beyond the prescribed limits.
The following are some of the sources of noise pollution that we are quite familiar with, but generally ignore:
i. Appliances in the home such as mixer grinders, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, etc., together cause a cumulative sound of about 87 dB. This itself is above the sound limits in most areas. On top of that, if loudspeakers, television sets and music systems are used with high volumes, then we can well imagine how much noise pollution is being created.
ii. Small factories using single unit machines would cause a sound of about 98 dB and above. The sound will definitely go higher as the number of machines increase.
iii. Airplanes cause the highest sound among all – 150 dB. But road vehicles are also great contributors of noise pollution. These vehicles include the trucks, buses, tractors, SUVs and even motorcycles and most cars.
iv. Then there are lots of environmental sources of noise pollution that cannot be ignored. Continuous noises are the most distressing. Noise coming from sources such as dripping taps and ticking of clocks can contribute to environmental noise pollution.
The subjective sensation of loudness of a sound varies more nearly in accordance with the sound pressure level. To get a feel for the sound pressure levels is dB, the rating of a few familiar sounds (Table 7.1)
The range of normal human hearing is in the range of 50 Hz to 15000 Hz frequencies. Frequencies below 50 Hz are called infrasound and above 15000 Hz, ultrasound. We can feel infrasonic vibrations because some of our body parts resonate in this range. As a result, sonic vibrations can cause harm to our body.
Ultrasonic devices are widely used in industry for sealing packages, welding, cutting, drilling and cleaning. Our knowledge of the harmful effects of certain frequencies of ultrasonic vibrations is still incomplete.
Noise is produced in modem civilization mainly through the following agencies:
1. Industry and Machinery,
2. Transportation (Surface and air),
3. Certain forms of entertainment and community activities.
It is transmitted to us through the surrounding air and the structures in which we live.
1. Industrial Noise:
For the most part is local, affecting mostly those who work in the industry. While the effects of industrial noise are often more serious than those from the other categories of noise, the noise is usually confined to small regions where, with proper care and design, its effects can be minimized. The maximum sound pressure levels considered safe for exposure for workers in a factory are given in Table 7.2.
2. Transportation Noise:
On the other hand, is far more widespread, invading vast area of large cities and affecting hundreds of thousands of city dwellers. It is the most persistent form of noise, growing at the fate of about 10 dB per decade with increase in the number of personal transport vehicles and faster modes of travel. In most of the larger cities in the world, noise levels have frequently reached 90 dB or more. Maximum permissible sound pressure levels (SPL) in dBA is given in Table 7.3.
3. Noise from Entertainment and Community Activities:
The third category of noise from entertainment and community activities is in a sense peculiar to human beings (Table 7.3). What is entertainment to one man is agony to another, unlike in the rest of the animal world where what is good for one animal is also good for another animal of the species. Aircraft noise has already assumed serious proportions for those living in the neighbourhood of airports. Modern commercial aircraft produce as much as 10 kW of noise power.
A new source of noise that is just around the corner is the sonic boom or sonic bang of the supersonic transport (SST) planes which are likely to replace the present day aircraft for long distance travel. The creation of shock waves by objects travelling faster than the local speed of sound is a well-known phenomenon in aerodynamics. The effects of sonic bang on people are, however, not yet seen clearly, but a startled reaction has been widely observed.
Essay # 3. Effects of Noise Pollution:
Noise pollution effects on human health, such as hearing loss and cardiovascular diseases, can bring day-to-day activities to a standstill.
Undesirable sound is referred as noise. In recent years, noise pollution has been a hot topic of discussion among researchers. Noise that is continuous or lasts for a short period can equally be detrimental to our health. Some music enthusiasts say that intermittent noise is not hazardous, but this isn’t true, even intermittent noise can negatively impact human hearing in the long run.
Common sources of noise include vehicular traffic, factories involved in the manufacturing process, and home appliances like vacuum cleaners and music systems. Fast becoming a major environmental issue, noise pollution effects on health have increased rapidly in the last few years.
Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health:
Noise pollution can take a severe toll on human health in the long run. These effects will not become apparent immediately, but there could be repercussions later on.
The following is a list of the kinds of effects noise pollution will have on human health after continuous exposure for months, and even years:
(i) The most immediate effect is a deterioration of mental health. As an example, people who are living too close to airports will probably be quite jumpy. Continuous noise can create panic episodes in a person and can even increase frustration levels. Also, noise pollution is a big deterrent in focusing the mind to a particular task. Over time, the mind may just lose its capacity to concentrate on things.
(ii) Another immediate effect of noise pollution is a deterioration of the ability to hear things clearly. Even on a short-term basis, noise pollution can cause temporary deafness. But if the noise pollution continues for a long period of time, there’s a danger that the person might go stone deaf.
(iii) Noise pollution also takes a toll on the heart. It is observed that the rate at which heart pumps blood increases when there is a constant stimulus of noise pollution. This could lead to side-effects like elevated heartbeat frequencies, palpitations, breathlessness and the like, which may even culminate into seizures.
(iv) Noise pollution can cause dilation in the pupils of the eye, which could interfere in ocular health in the later stages of life.
(v) Noise pollution is known to increase digestive spasms. This could be the precursor of chronic gastrointestinal problems.
Noise pollution effects on human health is a matter of great concern the reason being the adverse consequences that high noise levels have on human health.
Noise pollution can affect us in several ways, some of which are listed below:
a. Hearing Problems:
Exposure to noise can damage one of the most vital organs of the body, the ear. Hearing impairment due to noise pollution can either be temporary or permanent. When the sound level crosses the 70 dB mark, it becomes noise for the ear. Noise levels above 80 decibels produce damaging effects to the ear. When ear is exposed to extreme loud noise (above 100 decibels) for a considerable period of time, it can cause irreparable damage and lead to permanent hearing loss.
b. Cardiovascular Issues:
A noisy environment can be a source of heart related problems. Studies have shown that high intensity sound cause a dramatic rise in blood pressure as noise levels constrict the arteries, disrupting the blood flow. The heart rate (the number of heart beats per minute) also increase. These sudden abnormal changes in the blood increase the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases in the long run.
c. Sleep Disturbances:
This is one of the noise pollution effects that can deter your overall wellbeing. Noise can interrupt a good night’s sleep, and when this occurs, the person feels extremely annoyed and uncomfortable. People deprived of uninterrupted sleep show a sharp dip in their energy levels which often results into extreme fatigue. This can considerably decrease a person’s ability to work efficiently.
d. Interference in Verbal Communication:
A noisy environment that produces more than 50-60 decibels simply does not allow 2 people to communicate properly. Interpreting the speech of a second person becomes quite difficult and may lead to misunderstandings.
e. Mental Health Problems:
Exposure to loud sound can lead to elevated stress levels as well as stimulate violent behavior. A constant noise in the vicinity can also trigger headaches, make people tense and anxious, and disturb emotional balance.
f. Injury to the Cilia Cells:
Sounds of less than 80 dB do not often result in hearing loss, even after long or repetitive exposure. It is not possible to predict how an individual will respond to loud noises, since each person possesses a different hearing sensitivity. Yet, exposure to a single loud noise or continuous noise exposure can result in temporary hearing loss. This temporary loss is known as temporary threshold shift, and it will typically resolve 16 to 48 hours after the end of exposure.
Hearing loss can be permanent if the offending sound is loud enough to damage or destroy the delicate inner ear cells, called cilia, or stereo cilia, that are found in the cochlea of the inner ear. These cilia cells respond to mechanical sound vibrations by sending an electrical signal to the auditory nerve.
The mechanism of injury to cilia is purely physical; excessive vibration results in microscopic tearing or breaking of the cilia. There are many cilia located in the cochlea of the ear; the more that are damaged, the more profound the deafness. Once cilia cells are chemically or physically damaged or destroyed, they will not regenerate or repair themselves.
Noise Pollution Effects on Animals:
Man made noise pollution has made the Earth an uncomfortable place to stay for animals as well. Hearing loss and rapid increase in heart rate are some of the ill-effects of noise pollution on animals. High intensity sound induces fear, forcing them to abandon their habitat.
Other effects of noise on animals are given below:
(i) Anxious behavior in animals is commonly observed in the form of trembling when they are exposed to high decibel levels. Intolerable noise levels can decrease a cow’s capacity of milk production. These animals require a calm and relaxed environment to provide a better milk yield.
(ii) Research has proven that aircraft induced noise is responsible for a significant decrease in reproduction activity in a wide range of animals. Noise pollution effects can also be seen on chicken in the form of a sharp drop in egg production. Stunted growth in chickens due to intense noise has also been observed.
(iii) Underwater animals such as whales and dolphins too experience discomfort due to noise pollution caused by submarines, shipping companies, and sonars.
(iv) Birds in urban areas, that use their sharp hearing abilities to hunt prey, are at loss due to intervention of manmade noise. High noise levels can also negatively affect the breeding and feeding patterns of some animals. This is one of the reasons why certain species have become extinct.
(v) Sea animals produce varying sound levels among each other. However, the noise of commercial ships does not allow these animals to communicate properly, which can wreak havoc on their reproductive function. Sonar navy tests can hurt the whale’s ear and reduce its ability to breed and feed.
Essay # 4. Industrial Noise Pollution:
Industrial Noise refers to noise that is created in the factories which is jarring and unbearable. Sound becomes noise only it becomes unwanted and when it becomes more than that it is referred to as “noise pollution”. Heavy industries like shipbuilding and iron and steel have long been associated with Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).
Industrial Noise Pollution is becoming a nuisance and measures have to be taken to reduce it or at least control it. It is hampering the physical and mental health of the workers and is alienating them from society…No I am not exaggerating…this is truth that factory workers are suffering from withdrawal symptoms and it is high time that we start taking the issue seriously.
This is posing to be a big challenge with very passing day and is a threat to safety and health of the people who are working in the industry and common people as well. It has been scientifically proved that noise more than 85 decibels can cause hearing impairment and does not meet the standards set for healthy working environment.
Moreover it can also cause accidents. The problem has been viewed and analyzed from all the perspectives but the solution probably is not so easy to achieve since there is a lot of contradiction between legislation, guidance and documents. Industrial Noise resulting to noise pollution has many reasons such as industries being close to human habitats which prevents the noise from decaying before it reaches human ear.
Effects of Industrial Noise Pollution:
The continuous exposure to noise pollution leads to hearing impairment but it has various other effects as well which are as follows:
(i) It can result into increase in blood pressure
(ii) Increased stress
(iii) Fatigue
(iv) Stomach ulcers
(v) Vertigo
(vi) Headaches
(vii) Sleep disturbance
(viii) Annoyance
(ix) Speech Problems
(x) Dysgraphia, which means writing learning impairment
(xi) Aggression
(xii) Anxiety
(xiii) Withdrawal.
Industrial Noise adversely affects the workers and they suffer from various health problems as I have listed above. High volume leads to increased adrenaline levels, which leads to the constriction of blood vessels, which normally happens when the individual is tensed, afraid, anxious or extremely happy and excited. The work pressure and the noise pollution both lead to a fairly typical situation, which leads to clinical as well as psychological stress.
The blood pressure, due to the constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), remains high for the major part of the day. The human dislike towards anything that is not pleasant, yet compelling leads to emotional stress and depression which is a term for a quite a severe situation. Statistically there is a rise in the number of workers dying of cardiac arrests and cerebral attacks is on an increase considerably due to industrial noise pollution in railway yards, factories etc.
Some people also suffer from headaches, which decrease their efficiency levels and hamper the quality of their work. That leads to crises in workplace as well as home. Workers are always agitated and excited that result into carelessness.
Workers also become fatigued and in some cases over fatigued which should ring the alarm for organizations that want to grow. The worst part of Industrial Noise pollution is it affects the unborn baby in a womb and that too in the early days after conception since the fetus is sensitive to sounds and high decibels affects the growth of its organs.
The problems that the Industrial workers face are sleep disorders and behavioral changes. They experience increased levels of stress. They fail to achieve harmony thus leading to a lot of minor psychological problems, which are too common to be noticed. They are irritated and annoyed; therefore fail to interact with a person around them and this gradually leads them to become “loners”.
They withdraw from the society and some in extreme circumstances might have “tremors”, speech problems and many other behavioral problems. It is high time that the rules and regulations that are already made should be applied and followed so that we can cope with the ever increasing problem of noise pollution that is concentrated in the industry environment.
Essay # 5. How Loud is “Too Loud” for Your Hearing?
It is essential to recognize a sound loud enough to damage your hearing, and then proceed to protect yourself from injury. Sounds are explained, and different sound sources are rated for potential to damage hearing. Protection and prevention are stressed.
To measure the loudness of sound, a unit of measurement called a decibel (dB) is used. A decibel is one tenth of a bel (B), or the unit of measurement devised by engineers of the Bell Telephone Laboratory to quantify the level of sound reduction when a tone is transmitted over one mile (1.6 km) of standard telephone cable. Since the bel proved to be too large for most common sound measurements, the use of the smaller decibel became more popular.
The decibel is used in a wide variety of scientific measurements related to acoustics and electronics. This unit of measurement places a physical value — usually of noise or light intensity — in which a doubling of actual intensity causes perceived intensity to always increase by roughly the same amount. Specifically, a 3 dB increase is about equal to an approximate doubling of sound.
This is important to understand because when you look at the dB values given in the following charts and text, you will understand a relatively small numerical increase of 10 dB between the sound of rainfall and a sewing machine accounts for the significantly greater noise level. It also shows that the 110 dB sound of a screaming child is only several times less intense than a thunderclap or a rock concert.
Sound reference chart:
(i) 0 Rustling leaves
(ii) 20 Ticking watch
(iii) 30 Quiet whisper
(iv) 40 Refrigerator hum
(v) 50 Rainfall
(vi) 60 Sewing machine, typical conversation level speech
(vii) 70 Washing machine
(viii) 80 Alarm clock (two feet away)
(ix) 85 Average traffic
(x) 90 Gas lawnmower
(xi) 95 MRI testing
(xii) 100 Tractor, hair dryer, subway train
(xiii) 105 Power mower, chainsaw
(xiv) 110 Screaming child
(xv) 120 Rock concert, ambulance, thunderclap
(xvi) 130 Jackhammer, jet engine plane (100 feet away)
(xvii) 140 Fireworks
(xviii) 165 12 gauge shotgun blast.
Essay # 6. Noise Pollution in India and Other Countries:
In India we have yet to think in terms of noise-free surroundings. In Mumbai, most people prefer to live within walking distance of the suburban railway line, regardless of the noise. Jerry builders, out to make a fast buck, make the walls of upper floors thinner. Upper floors are more subject to outdoor noise. In the US, flat-hunters have been known to take transistor radios with them while looking over a flat to test whether sound from the adjoining flats can be heard.
We haven’t yet reached the stage of Rio de Janeiro, said to be the noisiest city in the world, where noise levels in the streets can hit the 120 dB level. But we are getting near to it. In our larger metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Delhi, the Accoustical Division of the National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, found an average noise level of over 90 dB, seldom falling below 60 dB.
Our climatic conditions are not helpful; we have to keep door’s and windows open most of the year, which means that noise can hardly be shut out.
Noise research in India has barely begun, but studies and trends abroad are good pointers. According to one study reported in ‘Psychology Today’, three American workers, David C. Glass, Sheldon Cohen and Jerome E. Euger, found that noise did produce stress, but after exposure to the noise. Subjects exposed to noise fared worse than the “controls”; they showed less persistency in working at insoluble problems, which the researchers regard as an index of tolerance for frustration.
Soft unpredictable noise produced lower tolerance for frustration than loud predictable noise, suggesting that predictability may be even more important than the loudness of the noise. Ability to control the noise, as by throwing a switch (even if the switch is not actually used), appeared to limit the subsequent adverse effects of the noise.
Anti-noise lobbies and activists are now throwing in their weight on the side of the citizen. Already there is growing public opinion against loudspeakers and ear-splitting Diwali-crackers. In the future it may be possible as a matter of course to claim damages for hearing loss sustained through exposure to intolerable noise.
In the UK, legislation is coming which will enable a householder exposed to a noise level exceeding 68 dBA on the L10 index to claim from highway authorities the cost of insulation against traffic noise. In the USA, a number of states have made noise-induced hearing loss a compensable disability, even though it might not have meant the loss of a job. The US Federal Government in 1971 set maximum safe noise levels (90 dB for eight-hour exposure) for all workers.
The white-collar worker might appear to be relatively better off. But he has his own irritants telephones, typewriters, buzzers, loud chatter. The telephone bell has an SPL of about 76 dB; typewriters have a more uniform sound level, lacking the ‘peaks’ of the telephone.
But conversation appears to be the most distracting source of noise; 46 per cent of people questioned by two Swiss researchers in a study of 15 “landscaped” offices, found it so. Curiously many reported that it was the content of the conversation, rather than the loudness, that was disturbing. What, then, of a telephone conversation (the hearer being able to hear only half of the dialogue)? —No studies, so far!
The same Swiss researchers report that an average mean noise level of 48 to 53 dBA might be all to the good. It would damp the great variety of single “acoustical events” -which should not exceed 58 to 65 dBA — without affecting speech intelligibility in offices. There was less disturbance due to noise in offices with a higher occupancy, larger total floor space, larger individual floor space and lower room height.
Essay # 7. Controlling Noise Pollution:
Governments are making their efforts for controlling noise pollution, but we must appreciate the difficulty of the task. Unless and until we take care of ourselves, the problems of noise pollution will always loom large.
Here are some ways in which we can make individual efforts at reducing noise pollution for ourselves and for others:
(i) We must constantly check up on the appliances we use at home. Most of them have rubber insulations that act for soundproofing. But over time, this insulation may wear out, and that is when the noise pollution will begin. Keep track of which appliances need maintenance, and replace insulations if needed.
(ii) Growing trees is a very significant way in which roadside noise can be curtailed. Trees act as buffers for absorbing the sound that is produced on the streets and hence reduce noise pollution. That is the reason why roads with trees on both sides seem to be more silent and peaceful. Grow trees around your house if you can. It will protect you from the noise on the streets. This will also help if you stay close to an airport.
(iii) Do not honk horns in your vehicles unless it is absolutely necessary. We all know how easily traffic sound limits are trespassed when there is a traffic jam. We might be desperate to get through, but honking horns will not solve any issues. It will only add to the noise pollution.
If you are working in a factory that has a lot of noise issues, make it a point to wear earplugs and muffs. If you are the owner of the factory, provide these things to your workers.
Like water and air pollution, noise pollution too needs to be controlled. To bring down noise levels, one has to first identify the sources of noise. Considering the ill effects of noise, some preventive steps need to be taken to reduce noise levels at the source.
Here are some tips to limit the noise:
(i) People living in the heart of city or near the airport, often have to bear the brunt of high noise levels. To decrease noise, one can install dual-paned windows. Offices, too can use windows to curb noise levels. Soundproofing is another alternative that can be looked at to reduce excessive sound levels.
(ii) Use of music systems and television sets with high volumes can cause noise pollution at home. Instead, using these appliances with the volume kept at a moderate level is a better option.
(iii) An effective way to manage noise would be to wear ear protection while working in noisy conditions. Animals should be moved to some other place, away from the noise source, thereby decreasing their noise exposure time.
(iv) Vehicles and factory machines need to be maintained properly and checked from time to time. Lack of maintenance will not only increase noise levels, but also decrease the efficiency of these machines.
It is observed that keeping plants in a noise producing environment can have an adverse impact on their growth and nutrient intake.
Remember, noise being unwanted sound, is naturally a disturbance to the ears. Noise pollution effects on mental and physiological health on humans and animals alike, cannot be overlooked. Hence, taking the aforementioned precautions to curtail noise pollution would definitely show reduction in this new urban menace (noise).
Active Noise Control or Active Noise Cancellation or Active Noise Reduction:
Introducing a nullifying “anti-noise” which has the same amplitude but the opposite polarity to the noise that is being controlled, which combines to form a new wave, does active noise control. This process of the combining of two waves is called Interference and this cancels both the sound waves. The process of cancellation is called Phase Cancellation.
A proper cancellation scheme has to be prepared. The result of Active Noise Control is a sound wave that is barely audible. Two waves of equal amplitude and identical phase add together to increase whereas two waves of equal amplitude and opposite phase result in cancellation of the sounds.
After the unwanted noise is identified, active noise control can work to generate correct signals that is send to the loudspeakers which start producing anti sound to nullify the original sound. The zone of silence is dependent on the wavelength of both the sounds and the wavelength would depend on the size of source of unwanted sound and the size, number and position of the loudspeakers, which would produce the anti-sound.
It is advisable to keep the audio power level of both the sources, i.e., the source of unwanted sound and the source of anti-sound, the same. The source of anti-sound or the “transducer” should be kept exactly where the sound needs to be weakened which would be the ear of the listener or listeners. It works better if done in case of a single listener since it requires lower power level.
Contemporary Active Noise Reduction can be achieved by the use of computers. The computer examines and identifies the waveform and the wavelength of the noise and then generates the polarization and reverse waveform so that interference can be achieved. As stated above the wavelength and amplitude of the sound is the same but the polarity is reversed.
This whole process creates the desired result of destroying the noise. Active Noise Reduction is different from any other process of noise control method especially soundproofing since in all the other methods power is not in use. Insulation and sound absorbing tiles are mechanical ways of controlling noise.
There are reasons behind using Active Noise Control method when compared to all the other methods because it requires lesser equipments and lesser power. It works very well on lesser frequencies and in case of a single user who is static, it can be handled well but when it is a dynamic user, noise control becomes a challenge. There are different environments where noise needs to be controlled and depending on that application also differs.
Repetitive sounds are easier to handle than continuous sounds. In a noise area where the source of noise is singular, active noise control is an easy process and other processes are also effective like the ear mufflers or insulators. In this case the source and the obstructer maintain a physical contact whereas when the sources of noise are multiple and the listeners are multiple or the single listener is kinetic, low frequency sound has to be used which can be used to counter the high frequency noise. Places, where Active Noise Control is used, are aircrafts, car interiors and factories.
Measures to Control Noise Pollution:
Protect Your Hearing:
A commonsense recommendation to avoid hearing loss due to excessively loud noise is to either wear hearing protection or remove yourself from the sound source.
Use either earplugs, earmuffs or other protection devices when exposed to sounds above 85 dB. Since you cannot always be certain when your sound environment places you at risk, use this rule of thumb: If you are talking to someone three away from you and you cannot clearly hear what is being said, the noise level around you could be damaging your hearing.
Do the obvious, and simply walk away when sounds are too loud or turn down the volume of the sound source if possible. It is also possible to limit the sound intensity by not standing directly near its source. Time spent in a loud environment is important to the health of your hearing, so limit the time you expose your ears to loud noises. Cover your ears with your hands or cross the street when you hear someone operating a leaf blower or when you are near a jackhammer.
Tinnitus Treatment Institute:
Since NIHL, or noise induced hearing loss, can result in tinnitus due to injury of the cochlear ciliary cells, the Tinnitus Treatment Institute has great interest in prevention of injury by sound exposure. Prevention is always preferable to treatment. For more information about tinnitus and NIHL, visit the website of the Tinnitus Treatment Institute.
What can we do?
Some towns and cities actually have laws and limits as to the noise pollution that its citizens can make. Other places, like golf courses or nature reserves, are also considered to be “quieter” places with less noise pollution.
There are some things that ail people can do to help lower their own levels of noise pollution that they — and hopefully others around them — produce:
(i) Rake leaves by hand don’t use a noisy leaf blower.
(ii) Trim bushes or shrubs by hand don’t use a noisy bush trimmer.
(iii) Sound proof rooms that might have music conducted in them, like a room with a piano or if someone in the house plays drums or guitar or whatever. This can be done simply with curtains, window inserts, carpeting, and closing windows and doors.
(iv) Don’t blast music on the radio or computer or speakers. Be considerate of your own ears and those of other around you.
(v) Don’t slam doors/car doors, close them easily and with only as much force as needed. (People don’t usually think of this, but imagine — how loud is it when you slam your car door? Pretty tolerable. But imagine thousands of people doing so. Now that can start to get loud.
(vi) Turn off the TV or radio when you aren’t actually fully listening to it.
(vii) Train your dog not to bark so much.
(viii) Don’t yell. Have civil conversations. Call someone or go find them instead of yelling across the street for them, for example.
(ix) Plant trees and bushes around you house. They help keep the air clean, absorb sound, give privacy, and add nice design and looks to a house.
(x) Do noisy things (dishes, hammering, etc.) over or on a rubber mat to reduce noise.
(xi) Put carpets, rugs, mats, throw rugs, etc. in your house/mats outside.
(xii) Put fabric window coverings instead of plastic or wooden shades/blinds.
(xiii) Don’t rev up a motorcycle or car unless it is actually needed for the drive.
(xiv) Don’t beep your cam horn “just because”, make sure it is a legitimate reason.