Among environmental influences , noise pollution is singled out, which is estimated as one of the most harmful to humans. All people have long lived surrounded by sounds, there is no silence in nature, although loud sounds are also very rare. The rustle of leaves, the twitter of birds and the rustle of the wind cannot be called noise. These sounds are good for humans. And with the development of technological progress, the problem of noise has become urgent, which brings many problems to people and even leads to disease.
Although sounds do not damage the environment and affect only living organisms, it can be said that noise pollution has become an environmental problem in recent years.
What is sound
A person’s hearing system is very complex. Sound is a wave oscillation transmitted through air and other components of the atmosphere. These vibrations are first perceived by the eardrum of the human ear, then transmitted to the middle ear. Sounds pass through 25 thousand cells before being realized. They are processed in the brain, so if they are very loud, they can lead to big health problems. The human ear is capable of perceiving sounds in the range of 15 to 20,000 vibrations per second. A lower frequency is called infrasound, and a higher frequency is called ultrasound.
What is noise
There are few loud sounds in nature, mostly they are quiet, favorably perceived by man. Noise pollution occurs when sounds merge and exceed intensity limits. Sound power is measured in decibels, and noise above 120-130 dB already leads to serious disorders of the human psyche and affects the state of health. Noise is of anthropogenic origin and increases with the development of technological progress. Now even in country houses and in the country it is difficult to hide from it. Natural noise does not exceed 35 dB, and in the city a person is faced with constant sounds of 80-100 dB.
Noise levels above 110 dB are considered unacceptable and very harmful to health. But increasingly, you can come across him on the street, in a store, or even at home.
Sources of noise pollution
Sounds are most harmful to people in big cities. But even in suburban villages, you can suffer from noise pollution caused by working technical equipment from neighbors: a lawn mower, a lathe or a music center. Noise from them can exceed the maximum permissible norms of 110 dB. And yet the main noise pollution occurs in the city. The source of it in most cases are vehicles. The greatest intensity of sounds comes from motorways, subways and trams. Noise in these cases can reach 90 dB.
The maximum permissible sound standards are observed during take-off or landing of the aircraft. Therefore, with improper planning of settlements, when the airport is close to residential buildings, noise pollution around it can lead to problems in people. In addition to traffic noise, the sounds of construction, working climate systems and radio commercials interfere with a person. And the modern person can no longer hide from the noise, even in an apartment. Constantly turned on household appliances, TV and radio exceed the permissible level of sounds.
How do sounds affect a person?
Susceptibility to noise depends on the person’s age, state of health, temperament and even gender. It is noticed that women are more sensitive to sounds. In addition to the general noise background, inaudible sounds also influence modern man : infrasound and ultrasound. Even their short-term exposure can cause headaches, sleep disturbances and mental disorders. The effect of noise on a person has been studied for a long time, even in ancient cities restrictions on sounds at night were introduced. And in the Middle Ages there was a penalty "under the bell", when under the influence of constant loud sounds a person died. Now in many countries there is a law on noise that protects citizens at night from acoustic pollution. But the complete absence of sounds also has a depressing effect on people. A person loses working capacity and experiences severe stress in a soundproofed room. And noise of a certain frequency, on the contrary, can stimulate the process of thinking and improve mood.
Noise damage to humans
- Prolonged exposure to sounds of even low intensity can cause an increase in pressure and an upset in the activity of the cardiovascular system.
- Noisy pollution strongly affects brain activity. Constant noise causes aggressiveness, irritability, sleep disturbance and depression of the central nervous system.
- Prolonged noise damages the visual and vestibular apparatus. The higher the intensity of sounds, the worse a person reacts to events.
- A noise of about 90 dB leads to hearing loss, and more than 140 dB can cause rupture of the eardrum.
- With prolonged exposure to intense noise at a level of 110 dB, a person has a feeling of intoxication, similar to alcohol.
Environmental Impact of Noise
- Constant loud noises destroy plant cells. Plants in the city quickly dry up and die, trees live less.
- Bees with intense noise lose their ability to navigate.
- Dolphins and whales are washed ashore due to the strong sounds of working sonars.
- Noise pollution of cities leads to the gradual destruction of structures and mechanisms.
How to protect yourself from noise
A feature of acoustic impacts on people is their ability to accumulate, and a person is unprotected from noise. The nervous system is particularly affected. Therefore, the percentage of mental disorders is higher among people working in noisy industries. Young boys and girls who constantly listen to loud music, their hearing after a while decreases to the level of 80-year-olds. But despite this, most people are unaware of the dangers of noise. How can you protect yourself? Personal protective equipment, such as ear plugs or headphones, is recommended. Soundproof windows and wall panels have become widespread. You need to try at home to use as few household appliances as possible. Worst of all, when noise prevents a person from getting enough sleep at night. In this case, the state should protect him.
Noise law
Every fifth resident of a big city suffers from diseases associated with noise pollution. In houses located near major highways, the noise level is exceeded by 20-30 dB. People complain about loud sounds made by construction sites, ventilation, enterprises, road works. Outside the city, residents are annoyed by discotheques and noisy companies resting in nature.
In order to protect people and give them a good night's sleep, in recent years, regional laws on silence have been adopted more and more often that regulate the time at which loud sounds cannot be produced. On weekdays, this is usually a period from 22 p.m. to 6 a.m., and on weekends from 23 to 9 a.m. Violators face administrative penalties and heavy fines.
Noise pollution in recent decades has become the most urgent problem in megacities. Of concern is the decrease in hearing in adolescents and the increase in the number of mental illnesses in people working in industries associated with loud noise.