Noise Pollution

Noise pollution (also Sound pollution) refers to the excessive and troublesome sound that is injurious to health. It is one of the major cause for deafness and other health hazards.

Causes: There are many causes of noise pollution. The bursting of crackers, running of vehicles, indiscriminate use of microphones, sounds from mills and factories are the causes of sound pollution.

Effects: Noise pollution affects the human mind and body negatively. The ill-effects of noise pollution are many. The lives of the children, the aged or the ailing persons become miserable. In many cases sound pollution is responsible for deafness, headache, blood pressure, heart disease and psychological imbalance.

Prevention: The following measures can be taken to prevent noise pollution:

• To prevent and control noise pollution it is necessary to create public awareness. Only law is not sufficient. People must be made aware of the harmful consequences of noise pollution.
• People should be made aware that excessive noise beyond certain limits may cause deafness.
• They should know that injuries caused by sound pollution are often irreversible.
• There should be proper regulations for the use of loudspeakers and other devices that produce noise beyond that are beyond the toleration limits of human-beings.
• The Pollution Control Board and the High Court have already taken effective measures to bring sound pollution under control. Adequate measures should be taken to ensure that noise related restrictions are not violated.