noise pollution

Noise Pollution

V.S.S.Nair

Pollution…

..is the introduction by man into the environment of contaminants thatContains harmful substances

Noise pollution…

..is displeasing human or machine createdsound that disrupts the activity or

happiness of human or animal lifeA common form of noise pollution is from Transportation, principally motor vehicles

NOISE

The word noise comes from the Latin wordNausea meaning “ seasickness “

Or from a derivative of Latin word noxia or noceo = “ I do harm “ referring originally

To nuisance noise

Causes and effects of Noise Pollution

No one on earth can escape the sounds of noise – an unwanted, disturbing sound that causes nuisance.

Noise is a disturbance to the human Environment that is escalating at such a

high rate that it will become a major threat to the quality of human lives.

Sources…

Airplanes at take off and landingVehiclesTrainsMachineries

Effects on human environments

There are numerous effects due to theincrease in noise pollution

Understanding noise levels..

Noise is measured as a sound level , in dB = 1/10 of a bel

Named after Alexander Graham Bell

dB

Threshold of hearing is 0 dBSound of rocket launching is 180 dBHuman ear tolerates up to 120 dB

dB

dB scale is logarithmic rather than linear

Sound intensity that increases by 3 dB is perceived as twice as loud

An increase of 10 dB is 10 times as loudAdd another 10 dB the sound will be

perceived as 100 times loud

Inhospitable Hospitals

In NICU a baby’s cry is music to its motherBut most sounds in hospitals are not

welcome and can be a source of annoyance to patients

And annoying the staff to – differentlye.g . Alarm sounds in patient rooms and

ICUsContinuous false alarms render staff

impervious to the sound of alarms!

Noise in hospitals

Hospitals are people dense generating tremendous amount of speech noise

Rubbish bins ,chair scraping, supply carts, loading oxygen cylinders

Paging

A new study - hospitals

Strong relationship between number of loud sounds – >80 dB – and sleep arousals in elderly

Beeps f more than 80 dB kept patients awake a huge percentage of time awake

How disrupted sleep affects patients?

Noise affects staff

Noise is an environmental stressor – no one likes noise intruding into their personal or work

As in hospitals ,noise is pervasive…so we get accustomed to it

Thereby try to get over it by raising our voices!

ISSUES AND REGULATIONS ON NOISE ISSUES AND REGULATIONS ON NOISE POLLUTION IN INDIAPOLLUTION IN INDIA

SOURCES OF NOISE

Outdoor sourcesOutdoor sources Traffic (road, rail and air)Traffic (road, rail and air) Generator setsGenerator sets Industries Industries Fire-crackersFire-crackers Loudspeakers and Public Address SystemsLoudspeakers and Public Address Systems Construction ActivitiesConstruction Activities Vehicle hornsVehicle horns

Indoor sourcesIndoor sources Air coolers Air coolers Air conditionersAir conditioners Television, music systemsTelevision, music systems Other office & home appliances etc.Other office & home appliances etc.

ISSUES

TRAFFIC NOISERoad Traffic :

Major concern in our country. Increasing vehicle population Planners lack of concern at the time of planning for residential areas

and other use zones vis-à-vis roads Lack of driving discipline Indiscriminate use of horns.

Air Traffic : Air traffic is increasing at the rate of about 25% in our country and is

expected to cause major concern of noise pollution in coming years. Rail Traffic:

Is of concern where trains passes by residential and other sensitive areas.

ISSUES

GENERATOR SETSDue to irregular power supply and increasing demand of power, engine based generator sets, using fuel such as petrol/kerosene, diesel, gas, furnace oil etc, have proliferated in our country causing serious noise pollution. maximum no. of complaints have been due to noise from generator sets.

INDUSTRIESProblem is faced mainly in mixed zones or where other use zones are very near to the industrial zone. in addition, noise is of concern within the industries also.

ISSUES

LOUD SPEAKERS / PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMSUse of loud speakers / public address systems in functions, meetings, religious places in open areas is a source of serious nuisance.

FIRECRACKERSUse of firecrackers with high noise level may harm the human hearing system. specially sensitive are small children.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIESNoise from construction of roads, buildings etc. near residential and silence zones needs to be controlled by effective starategies.

ISSUES

INDOOR SOURCESNoise from indoor sources such as Air Cooler / Conditioner, TV, Mixie etc are also of concern

AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS DUE TO ROAD TRAFFIC ALONG MAJOR ROADS IN DELHI

SL.NO.

MONITORING SITE

Major Roads

DATE TIME Leq dB(A)

Ambient Standard

(Residential) Leq

1. Bhagirathi W.T.P., Gokulpuri

Wazirabad Road

5.9.056.9.05

Night Day

66.967.1

55 dB(A) for day time

&45 dB(A) for night time

2. Tarang Apartment, I.P. Extension

NH-24 7.9.058.8.05

Night Day

62.762.2

3. F- Block, Narauji Nagar

Ring Road 19.9.0520.9.05

Night Day

63.264.4

4. CSIR, Apartment, Ashram Chowk

Mathura Road

21.9.0522.9.05

Night Day

69.169.0

AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS DUE TO ROAD TRAFFIC ALONG MAJOR ROADS IN DELHI

SL.NO.

MONITORING SITE

Major Roads DATE TIME Leq dB(A)

Ambient Standard

(Residential) Leq

5. Shankar Vihar

NH-8 26.9.0527.9.05

Night Day

68.366.2



6. PWD Office, Shalimar Bagh

Ring Road 28.9.0529.9.05

Night Day

69.470.1

7. Sunder Apartment, Pashchim Vihar

Outer Ring Road

5.10.056.10.05

Night Day

63.067.1

8. NDMC Flats Mandir Marg

Mandir Marg 16.11.0517.11.05

Night Day

63.269.7

AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL DUE TO AIR TRAFFIC AROUND IGI AIRPORT

SL. NO.

DATE SITE TIME Leq dB(A) Ambient Standard

Leq

1. 08.04.04 Shankar Vihar Night 62.51



09.04.04 Day 63.042. 12.04.04 JNU Night 60.27

13.04.04 Day 62.383. 15.04.04 IIT, New Delhi Night 58.83

16.04.04 Day 59.34. 18.04.04 Sec-19, Dwarka Night 60.88

19.04.04 Day 63.025. 21.04.04 JNU Night 59.32

22.04.04 Day 61.276. 05.05.04 Shankar Vihar Night 56.5

06.05.04 Day 56.01

LEGISLATIONS ON NOISE CONTROL IN INDIA

1.1. Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986Environmental (Protection) Act, 19862.2. Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 19813.3. Factories Act, 1948Factories Act, 19484.4. Motor Vehicles Act, 1988Motor Vehicles Act, 19885.5. Indian Penal Code – Sections 268, 290 & 291Indian Penal Code – Sections 268, 290 & 2916.6. Criminal Procedure Code – Section 133Criminal Procedure Code – Section 1337.7. Law of TortsLaw of Torts8.8. Local Acts/Rules regulating loud speakers etc.Local Acts/Rules regulating loud speakers etc.

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT, 1986.

STANDARDS NOTIFIED UNDER EPA, 1986STANDARDS NOTIFIED UNDER EPA, 1986

1.1. Ambient Noise Standards - 1989Ambient Noise Standards - 19892.2. Noise Limits for Domestic Appliances/Construction Equipment - Noise Limits for Domestic Appliances/Construction Equipment -

199019903.3. Noise Limits for Motor Vehicles – 1990Noise Limits for Motor Vehicles – 19904.4. Noise Limits for Diesel Generator Sets - 1999Noise Limits for Diesel Generator Sets - 19995.5. Noise Limits for Fire-crackers - 1999Noise Limits for Fire-crackers - 19996.6. Noise Limits for Petrol/Kerosene Generator Sets - 2000Noise Limits for Petrol/Kerosene Generator Sets - 20007.7. Noise Limits for Motor Vehicles (revision) - 2000Noise Limits for Motor Vehicles (revision) - 20008.8. Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules – 2000Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules – 20009.9. Noise Limits for Diesel Generator Sets (revision) – 2002.Noise Limits for Diesel Generator Sets (revision) – 2002.

NOISE POLLUTION (REGULATION & CONTROL) RULES, 2000(Notified under EPA, 1986)

2 (c)2 (c) ‘‘Authority’ - includes District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, or Authority’ - includes District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of PolicePolice

33 Ambient Noise Standards, prescribed in schedule.Ambient Noise Standards, prescribed in schedule.

5.5. Public address systemPublic address system

i)i) Written permission required from authorityWritten permission required from authority

ii)ii) Not to be used between 10:00 pm – 6:00 amNot to be used between 10:00 pm – 6:00 am

iii)iii) Use permitted between 10.00 pm to 12.00 midnight for 15 Use permitted between 10.00 pm to 12.00 midnight for 15 days during cultural or religious festivals in a calendar days during cultural or religious festivals in a calendar year year

7.7. Public complaintPublic complaint

i)i) If noise level exceeds the ambient noise If noise level exceeds the ambient noise standards by 10 dB(A), complaint to the authority standards by 10 dB(A), complaint to the authority

ii)ii) Authority to take actionAuthority to take action

8.8. Power to prohibit – by Prescribed authorityPower to prohibit – by Prescribed authority

AIR (PREVENTION & CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1981

Noise was included in the definition of air pollutant in the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act by an amendment in 1987. Ambient noise standards have been notified under Air Act, in 1990.

This Act covers noise from industries/trade.

Implementing agency - SPCBs

INDIAN PENAL CODE – SECTIONS 268, 290 & 291

Noise pollution can be dealt under sections 268, 290 & 291 of the Indian Penal Code, as a public nuisance.

Section 268 of this Code, specifies that “ A person is guilty of a public nuisance, who does any act, or is guilty of an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger, or annoyance to the public or the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have occasion to use any public right”.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE – SECTION 133

Under Section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Magistrate has the power to make conditional order requiring the person causing nuisance to remove such nuisance.

MOTOR VEHICLES ACT, 1988.

Sections 119 and 120 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, deals with reduction of noise from motor vehicle.

Section 119 states that ‘ every motor vehicles shall be fitted with an electric horn or other device approved by BIS’.

Section 120 requires that every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a device (silencer) which reduces the noise that would otherwise made by escape of exhaust gases from the engine.

It also specifies that every motor vehicle shall be so constructed and maintained as to conform to the noise standards for motor vehicles.

FACTORIES ACT, 1948

The Factories Act does not contain any specific provision for noise pollution control. However, in third Schedule under Sections 89 and 90 of the Act, ‘noise induced hearing loss’ is mentioned as a notifiable disease.

Under Section 89 of the Act, any medical practitioner who detects any notifiable disease, including noise induced hearing loss, in a worker, has to report the case to the Chief Inspector of Factories, along with all other relevant information. Failure to do so is a punishable offence.

Noise limits for work zone area have been prescribed in Model Rules framed under the Factories Act, 1948.

LAW OF TORTS

Under the law of torts, a civil suit can be filed claiming damages for the nuisance. Nuisance as a tort means an unlawful interference with the person’s use or enjoyment of land or some right over, or in connection with it.

AMBIENT NOISE STANDARDS (Noise Rules, 2000 and its amendments)

Category of Area / ZoneCategory of Area / Zone Limits in dB(A) LeqLimits in dB(A) Leq

Day time Day time Night timeNight time

Industrial area 75 70Commercial area 65 55Residential area 55 45Silence Zone 50 40

Note :-1. Day time shall mean from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.2. Night time shall mean from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.3. Silence zone is an area comprising not less than 100 meters around

hospitals, educational institutions and courts, religious places or any other area which is declared as such by the competent authority.

4. Mixed categories of areas may be declared as one of the four above mentioned categories by the competent authority.

NOISE LIMITS FOR GENERATOR SETS RUN WITH DIESELGSR 371(E), dated May 17, 2002 (and its amendments)

New Generator Sets (effective from Jan 01, 2005)New Generator Sets (effective from Jan 01, 2005)

The maximum permissible sound pressure level for NEW diesel The maximum permissible sound pressure level for NEW diesel generator sets (upto 1000 KVA) manufactured generator sets (upto 1000 KVA) manufactured on or after 1.1.2005on or after 1.1.2005 shall shall

be 75 dB(A) at 1 metre from the enclosure surface.be 75 dB(A) at 1 metre from the enclosure surface.

Diesel generator sets (upto 1000 kVA) shall be Diesel generator sets (upto 1000 kVA) shall be manufactured and soldmanufactured and sold only with integral acoustic enclosuresonly with integral acoustic enclosures..

This standard is applicable at the manufacturing stage.This standard is applicable at the manufacturing stage.

NOISE LIMITS FOR GENERATOR SETS RUN WITH DIESELGSR 371(E), dated May 17, 2002 (and its amendments)

Existing Generator Sets (all capacities) and New Generator Sets Existing Generator Sets (all capacities) and New Generator Sets >1000 KVA>1000 KVA

Noise from EXISTING DG Sets (all capacities manufactured before Noise from EXISTING DG Sets (all capacities manufactured before 1.1.2005) and also new Diesel Generator Sets above 1000 KVA, 1.1.2005) and also new Diesel Generator Sets above 1000 KVA, noise noise shall be controlled by providing acoustic enclosures or by treating the shall be controlled by providing acoustic enclosures or by treating the rooms acoustically, at the rooms acoustically, at the users’ endusers’ end. .

The acoustic enclosure or the room treatment shall be designed for The acoustic enclosure or the room treatment shall be designed for minimum 25 dBA insertion loss or for meeting the ambient noise minimum 25 dBA insertion loss or for meeting the ambient noise standard standard whichever is on the higher side.whichever is on the higher side.

These shall be regulated by the SPSBs/SPCCs at the user’s end.These shall be regulated by the SPSBs/SPCCs at the user’s end.

NOISE LIMITS FOR NEW PETROL/KEROSENE GENERATOR SETS

[GSR 742(E), September 25, 2000 and its amendments]

Noise Limits fromNoise Limits fromSeptember 1, 2002September 1, 2002 September 1, 2003September 1, 2003

Sound Power Level, LWA 90 dB(A) 86 dB (A)

This standard is applicable at the manufacturing stage.This standard is applicable at the manufacturing stage.

NOISE LIMITS FOR FIRE-CRACKERSGSR 682(E), October 5, 1999.

THE MANUFACTURE, SALE OR USE OF FIRE-CRACKERS THE MANUFACTURE, SALE OR USE OF FIRE-CRACKERS GENERATING NOISE LEVEL EXCEEDING 125 dB(AI) OR 145 dB(C)GENERATING NOISE LEVEL EXCEEDING 125 dB(AI) OR 145 dB(C)PKPK AT AT 4 METERS DISTANCE FROM THE POINT OF BURSTING, SHALL BE 4 METERS DISTANCE FROM THE POINT OF BURSTING, SHALL BE PROHIBITED.PROHIBITED.

FOR INDIVIDUAL FIRE-CRACKER CONSTITUTING THE SERIES FOR INDIVIDUAL FIRE-CRACKER CONSTITUTING THE SERIES (JOINED FIRE-CRACKERS) THE ABOVE MENTIONED LIMIT BE (JOINED FIRE-CRACKERS) THE ABOVE MENTIONED LIMIT BE REDUCED BY 5 LOGREDUCED BY 5 LOG10 (N) dB, WHERE N = NUMBER OF CRACKERS (N) dB, WHERE N = NUMBER OF CRACKERS JOINED TOGETHER.JOINED TOGETHER.

These shall be applicable at the manufacturing stage .These shall be applicable at the manufacturing stage .Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (formerly Dept. of Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (formerly Dept. of Explosives) is the implementing agency.Explosives) is the implementing agency.

NOISE STANDARDS IN WORK ZONE AREA

PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE PER DAY IN CASES OF CONTINUOUS NOISE

___________________________________________________________________

Duration of Exposure, (Hrs) Permissible Level of Exposure, [dB(A)]8 906 924 953 972 100

1 ½ 1021 105¾ 107½ 110¼ 115

___________________________________________________________________

NOISE STANDARDS IN WORK ZONE AREA

PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE FOR IMPULSIVE OR IMPACT NOISE____________________________________________________________

PEAK SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL IN dB PERMITTED NUMBER OF IMPULSES OR IMPACTS PER DAY

_____________________________________________________________________________140 100

135 315 130 1,000 125 3,160

120 10,000_____________________________________________________________________________

NOISE LIMITS FOR VEHICLES AT MANUFACTURING STAGE

SL.NO.

TYPE OF VEHICLES NOISE LIMITS dB(A)

1.0 TWO WHEELERS1.1 DISPLACEMENT UPTO 80 CC 75

1.2 DISPLACEMENT MORE THAN 80 CC BUT UPTO 175 CC 77

1.3 DISPLACEMENT MORE THAN 175 CC 80

2.0 THREE WHEELERS2.1 DISPLACEMENT UPTO 175 CC 77

2.2 DISPLACEMENT MORE THAN 175 CC 80

3.0 VEHICLES USED FOR THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS AND CAPABLE OF HAVING NOT MORE THAN NINE SEATS, AND A MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVW) OF MORE THAN 3.5 TONNES

74

4.0 VEHICLES USED FOR THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS HAVING MORE THAN NINE SEATS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER’S SEAT, AND A MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVW) OF MORE THAN 3.5 TONNES

4.1 WITH AN ENGINE POWER LESS THAN 150 KW 78

4.2 WITH AN ENGINE POWER OF 150 KW OR ABOVE 80

NOISE LIMITS FOR VEHICLES AT MANUFACTURING STAGE

SL. NO. TYPE OF VEHICLES NOISE LIMITS dB(A)

5.0 VEHICLES USED FOR THE CARRIAGE OF PASENGERS HAVING MORE THAN NINE SEATS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER’S SEAT: VEHICLES USED FOR THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS

5.1 WITH A MAXIMUM GVW EXCEEDING 3.5 TONNES 76

6.0 VEHICLES USED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS WITH A MAXIMUM GVW EXCEEDING 3.5 TONNES

6.1 WITH AN ENGINE POWER LESS THAN 75 KW 77

6.2 WITH AN ENGINE POWER OF 75 KW OR ABOVE BUT LESS THAN 150 KW

78

6.3 WITH AN ENGINE POWER OF 150 KW OR ABOVE 80

IMPORTANT DECISIONS OF HON’BLE COURTS RELATED TO NOISE POLLUTION

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA :[(CWP No. 72 of 1998) final judgment delivered on July 21, 2005].

States shall make provisions for seizure and confiscation of loud speakers, amplifiers and such other equipments as are found to be creating noise beyond the permissible limits.

IMPORTANT DECISIONS OF HON’BLE COURTS RELATED TO NOISE POLLUTION


Firecrackers Chemical composition of firecrackers shall be the basis for evaluating

effective noise control. Dept. of Explosives shall undertake necessary activity for the purpose

and shall come out with chemical formulae for each category or class of firecrackers.

Dept of Explosives shall specify proportion/composition as well as maxm. permissible weight of every chemical used in manufacturing,

Each manufacturer shall mention details of chemical composition on the box of each firecracker as laid down by DoE.

There shall be complete ban on bursting sound emitting firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am.

Major decisions of Hon’ble Courts in matter related to Noise Pollution

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA :[(CWP No. 72 of 1998) final judgment delivered on July 21, 2005].Loudspeakers:

Noise level at boundary of public place where loudspeaker or public address system or any noise source being used shall not exceed 10 dB(A) above the ambient noise standard for the area or 75 dB(A), whichever is lower.

The peripheral noise level of privately owned sound system shall not exceed by more than 5 dB(A) than the ambient noise standard specified for the area in which it is used, at the boundary of the private place.



Vehicle Noise:

No horn should be allowed to be used at night (between 10 pm and 6 am) in residential areas except in exceptional circumstances.


Supreme Court:

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Church of God in India Vs KKR Majestic Colony Welfare Association, held that the Court may issue directions in respect of controlling noise pollution even if such was a direct result of and was connected with religious activities.

The Court further held that “No religion prescribes that prayers should be performed by disturbing the peace of others nor does it preach that they should be through voice amplifiers or beating of drums”.

In a civilized society activities which disturb the old or infirm persons, students or children having their sleep in early hours or during daytime or other persons carrying on activities cannot be permitted.


Madras High Court: (Appa Rao,M.S Vs Govt. of T.N, 1995)

The Madras High Court taking a note of the serious health hazard and disturbance to public order and tranquility caused by uncontrolled noise pollution prevailing in the state, issued a writ mandamus directing the State Govt. to impose strict conditions for issue of licence for use of amplifiers and loudspeakers and for diercting the DG, Police (Law & Order) to impose total ban on use of horn type loudspeakers and amplifiers and air horns on automobiles.

FUTURE FOCUS AREAS

Review of noise regulations based on feed-back from Review of noise regulations based on feed-back from

implementing agenciesimplementing agencies

Noise Labeling of Domestic/Office Appliances Noise Labeling of Domestic/Office Appliances

Airport & Railway Noise ControlAirport & Railway Noise Control

Noise Limits for in-use Vehicles – Stationary vehiclesNoise Limits for in-use Vehicles – Stationary vehicles

Vibration StandardsVibration Standards

Comprehensive noise legislationComprehensive noise legislation

Creation of mandatory Noise Cells in all SPCBs.Creation of mandatory Noise Cells in all SPCBs.

FUTURE FOCUS AREAS

Effective implementation – major contraints of SPCBs are Effective implementation – major contraints of SPCBs are

shortage of funds and staff.shortage of funds and staff.

Better co-ordination with implementing agenciesBetter co-ordination with implementing agencies

Future policies to concentrate on land use planning Future policies to concentrate on land use planning

Environmental noise mapping Environmental noise mapping

Public education and information etc.Public education and information etc.

noise pollution

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