The Noise pollution, acoustic or noise consists of an excess of loudness that affects the standards of the environment of a certain place. Although noise does not move or accumulate like other types of pollution -such as garbage-, it can harm the life not only of human beings, but also that of other living beings.
The concept of noise pollution (or auditory, failing that) is used to define annoying and excessive sound that is caused mainly by human work and activities, especially those related to vehicles and industries..
In the case of transport, all means of transport can cause noise pollution, such as airplanes, boats and cars, which produce more noise during congested traffic. Some factories also produce annoying noises, especially those where saws and mincers are used, among other tools.
Loud music - very typical of cosmopolitan societies where there are nightlife or entertainment venues - also causes damage to the environment. Most experts assure that all societies that are victims of noise pollution are in large cities, so that rural areas do not usually suffer from this disease.
For this reason, in many countries there are rules that regulate the amount of sound that can be produced in a day, through the establishment of schedules that limit city noise. If these regulations are not complied with, the authorities have a duty to apply sanctions to users or owners who act irresponsibly..
Depending on the intensity, noise pollution can cause severe damage to the hearing organ. In less severe cases, tedious noises can cause discomfort to people's psychosomatic health, resulting in increased levels of stress, moodiness and discomfort..
In the most developed countries, initiatives have been enacted that protect the environment and people from noise pollution in order to promote the well-being of large cities. However, continuous modernization and new technologies, as well as unconscious citizens, prevent further development of sound protection..
Article index
As mentioned above, noise or noise pollution is generally caused by means of transport, as well as some factories and infrastructure constructions..
The noise that is produced by cars is classified as one of the most annoying and stressful, so it is almost never unnoticed by citizens, pedestrians and passers-by. This pollution takes place mainly in large cities, where there is a large volume of inhabitants; this produces high levels of traffic.
Today, large automotive corporations are making electric cars, which are known to emit much less noise than other vehicles. As a counterpart, there are the large gandolas or trucks, whose extensive machinery usually generates very annoying noises.
Airports tend to cause loud noises on a daily basis, almost 24 hours a day. Therefore, people who work within these areas, as well as people who must constantly travel, must deal with the auditory and neurological consequences that these highly polluting places cause..
Airplanes make a lot of noise due to turbines, which have to spin at full speed in order to keep the vehicle in the air. This causes sound to spread through the wind, which explains the auditory discomfort that humans feel when an airplane glides or flies very close to the city..
Constructions cause strong noise or noise pollution, since most of the implements and tools used to build generate annoying and excessive noise.
For example, due to the size and force a crane requires to operate, it generates a lot of noise. The elements used for welding and drilling also cause a lot of hearing discomfort..
Workers using these machines must cover their ears to avoid damage to the organ; however, repeated exposure still causes hearing problems.
Discotheques and bars are the main places where noise pollution takes place, since they use large equipment to play music at full volume.
People are very likely to leave these sites in a daze, although many consider it an essential part of the nighttime experience..
In turn, these premises tend to cause nuisance in adjacent homes. For this reason, nightclubs and bars have anti-noise walls or are located in basements. In order not to harm other people, schedules are usually established that limit the volume of music.
In many societies, some neighbors tend to be inconsiderate with the other inhabitants of the area, since they play loud music, drag furniture or other artifacts -annoying those who live in buildings or apartments-, hammer or scream, producing annoying sounds for others people.
To avoid this type of situation that can generate stress and discord among neighbors, it is recommended that institutions promote empathy and respect for others.
Regulations and legal sanctions should also be used, as these influence the subject to be more considerate of those who inhabit the adjacent dwellings..
Noise and auditory pollution generates a series of consequences that are very harmful to both physical and mental health of the human being. Likewise, it can also affect some animals.
Constant exposures to high noise levels can lead to anxiety, stress, learning disabilities, and even cardiovascular problems..
They can also cause insomnia, which harms the subject in different areas since, by not sleeping well, the person cannot carry out their work or domestic activities efficiently.
People who are exposed to noise levels that exceed 65 decibels, or even exceed 85 decibels, can suffer from heart problems.
This occurs because the human body responds to these noises by releasing hormones that can raise blood pressure. Older people are often the most vulnerable to this effect.
In addition, exposure to these loud sounds can cause damage to the organ of hearing, gradually destroying the cells that make it possible for this sense to function. Losing hearing harms the individual in their work and academic performance, as well as in their social relationships.
Just as human beings suffer the consequences of noise pollution, so do some animals that make up the ecosystem.
Generally, many species can suffer disorientation or considerable changes in behavior. The most delicate animals can even lose their hearing.
Some animals communicate through sounds or calls, such as whales. This species can be affected by sound waves produced by boats or other vehicles, which impairs its reproduction.
It also causes disorientation, which is why today it is common to find several whales or dolphins stranded on the beach..
In conclusion, noise pollution can cause an imbalance in the natural course of ecosystems.
There are three types of noise pollution: vehicular noise, industrial noise and that produced in urban environments.
It is considered the most polluting noise, since it occurs in any area and is the most common in all cities of the world. In this classification are not only automobiles, but also heavy machinery, motorcycles, trains and all other vehicles.
Currently, as a consequence of economic processes, an increase in the number of vehicles has developed, which encourages noise pollution.
According to existing records, a car can suffer an increase of 10 decibels when it increases the speed from 50 km / h to 100 km / h, at which time not only the engine produces noise, but also the exhaust pipe, tires and the car. fan.
For their part, trucks can generate up to thirty times more noise than a conventional or small car. Railroads also produce a lot of noise pollution, especially the underground, also known in some places as the subway..
These noises are carried out within the manufacturing and product manufacturing sector. This includes different processes and activities such as packing, transporting, welding and hammering, among others. These jobs often create a very noisy atmosphere for your workers..
High frequencies are very common in the work of steel companies, mines, petrochemicals, cement plants and thermoelectric plants.
In this category are all those annoying noises that are produced in the home and in the urbanization or community. Alterations within daily activities can occur due to the sound of radios, televisions, blenders, air conditioners, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, among others..
According to existing records, it has been established that noise pollution increases every ten years after the Industrial Revolution. Humans are so used to noise that they are likely to feel uncomfortable in very quiet places such as cabins or desert beaches.
To improve the situation of noise or noise pollution, some measures must be taken that can be applied by all citizens, in order to improve the quality of life.
For example, you should avoid making unnecessary noises in housework or work; It is recommended to control the closing of the doors, as well as to avoid hammering at night. It is also encouraged to prefer the bicycle before any other vehicle, whenever possible..
Neighbors need to respect each other's rest hours, especially if they live in buildings or blocks. In addition, listening to music and television at high volumes should be avoided, since they can damage the ears of the members of the household..
In turn, it is advisable not to use fireworks, since these not only harm humans, but also those animals that have a much more sensitive hearing organ, such as dogs or parrots..
Due to the high noise or noise pollution, Mexico has chosen to take a series of measures in order to improve the situation.
For example, there is a program known as Ecobici, which consists of promoting the use of public bicycles in order to alleviate traffic and pollution..
An improvement in electric lighting has also been implemented and some streets have been closed in order to encourage pedestrian movement; in this way, the inhabitants of this country (especially in the capital) decrease the use of cars.
For some authors, the problem of noise pollution -mainly in Mexico City- is closely related to the disorderly planning of the city, where vehicular traffic has also been privileged over any other means of transport..
One of the solutions offered by various organizations is to continue building pedestrian corridors, with the aim of turning the city into a “walkable” city, which significantly reduces noise pollution.
According to data registered by the government, it is estimated that five million Colombians suffer from hearing problems; in turn, 14% of that number is known about hearing loss due to exposure within the working population.
Due to this, in Colombia a series of limits has been established around the level of decibels to which a person must be exposed: 65 decibels in residential areas and 70 decibels in industrial and commercial areas. At night only a maximum of 45 decibels is allowed.
In Colombia, some prevention measures have been adopted, which are applied within health institutions, in the educational sector and in the workplace. Various recommendations have also been made to technology users and laws have been enacted to control noise in residential areas..
The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Palermo carried out an analysis on noise or noise pollution in the main cities of Argentina, specifically in Buenos Aires. This study showed that, in a single street, the noise of vehicles and pedestrians exceeds the sound level produced in Jorge Newbery Airport.
In fact, when a survey was conducted among Argentine citizens to find out the cause of noise pollution, 93% of the responses assured that it was due to vehicular traffic, this being the main annoyance in the city of Buenos Aires.
In second place, the citizens voted to repair the public highway, while in the third place they located the discos.
To control this problem, the Argentine government enacted a law known as Law 3013: control of noise pollution, in which it is established that vehicles must use a special horn that does not sound strident or prolonged. This applies to all kinds of transportation, be it cars, motorcycles or police vehicles..
Taking into account some informative articles, it can be established that noise pollution in Peru (especially in the city of Lima) has reached worrying levels: 90% of places exceed sound limits.
The authorities have implemented a series of regulations to improve the situation; However, according to TV Peru sources, bus drivers have ignored these indications, which prohibit the use of horns..
This television channel decided to carry out a study using a sound level meter, which determined that the polluting noise reaches up to 110 decibels, which significantly exceeds the established noise terms.
For this reason, currently a sanction has been implemented that establishes that if a passerby touches the horn unnecessarily, he must pay a fine of up to 166 soles..
According to a series of studies, it can be established that the percentage of family dwellings with noise pollution problems is 30% in the Iberian Peninsula, although there are some areas -especially urban ones- whose percentage is a little higher, such as For example, the Valencian community, which has an index of 37%.
According to Francisco Aliaga, professor of the Department of Social Health and Integrated Management of the European Institute of Business Studies, Spain is the country with the highest noise pollution in the European Union, which prompts the authorities to take a series of measures.
For example, the Noise law, promulgated in 2002, in order to reduce noise pollution levels; said law also seeks to monitor and prevent.
The World Health Organization established that the tolerable noise limit is about 65 decibels per day; However, in Spain when traffic is congested, decibels can reach a level of 90. Likewise, in a Spanish nightclub the decibels reach 110.
Yet No Comments