The community at large has ignored the acoustic environment. Exposure to sound pollution can lead to stress.
It is fashionable to talk about the environment. Even management gurus talk about the eco-system. But in our daily lives, we tend to overlook the effects of the acoustic environment. Elevated sound levels at the workplace and home have long-term effects on the body and mind.
According to M Srihari, psychologist at Bangalore Medical College, more than 50% of patients suffering from anxiety or depression cannot tolerate too much sound. For others, exposure to sound pollution can lead to stress.
And the people in Bangalore are stressed. A growing economy will take its toll on its working population. Increasing demands at the workplace and home are driving professionals on to destructive paths. Sound pollution adds to such misery.
Exposure to sound pollution for a considerable period of time can lead to damage in the vestibular cochlear apparatus thus causing problems in hearing. It also disturbs sleep and concentration. As a secondary effect of sound pollution, when people get exposed to it for a longer time, they tend to get irritated, as a result of which their BP level and heart rate go up causing more complications, says Rajiv Moger, consultant physician with Apollo Hospital.
The community at large has ignored the acoustic environment. Noise decibels in residential and commercial areas are much higher than standards set by Environment Protection Act, 1986. The permissible limit in residential areas during the day is 55 db and 45 db at night. The average noise in the city is 70 db. Mekhri Circle touches 100 db.
People living at Malleswaram 5th and 6th Cross are most vulnerable to traffic noise. The residents of Koramangala inner ring road and 80 ft road complain of constant vehicular noise. Rajajinagar is the noisiest area in the city.
The first signs of hearing loss appear when you are unable to hear some words during a conversation or recognise some sounds. By the time people realise this, they would have permanently lost the capability to recognise high frequency sounds.
It is time we put community noise at the top of the public health agenda. As architect Meeta Jain says, “We require holistic town planning.” She suggests integrating sound barrier techniques at homes to minimise sound pollution from the outside.
According to feedback consulting chairman and MD V Ravichandar, “We Bangaloreans have got accustomed to some levels of noise pollution, which is a matter of concern. It can be solved by individuals through a cultural change and the government by monitoring and curtailing sound pollution.”
Karnataka Pollution Control Board member secretary MS Goudar says, “Sound was not monitored as the centre probably did not think it was important. It is measured only during festivals and based on complaints. There are no proper instruments to measure it. But it is becoming important and we are planning to do something.’’
Policies and interventions, including health impact assessments, will require detailed data on actual ambient noise levels (Bangalore had such a study eight years ago). Reducing noise at the source will likely require new road standards and lower allowable engine noise levels. Unfortunately, we are not there yet.
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