Deafening rrroar!

Deafening rrroar!
Bangaloreans are at serious risk from growing traffic noise pollution, finds BT
The Times of India

HONK if you hate that noise — that’s what all Bangaloreans seem to be doing nowadays.

Traffic noise is growing frighteningly loud. “Noise causes impairment, and noise pollution is a growing concern,” says David Behm, professor of human kinetics at Newfoundland University, “Still, noise gets little attention. It seems to be the least concerning form of pollution.” Are people shutting their ears to the fact that they’re gradually turning deaf ?

The government’s noise pollution rules, passed in 2000, define accepted noise levels at 55 dB (decibels) for residential areas. Even 10 dB higher than that is considered pollution. Hospital and school areas are deemed silent zones, and have a limit of 50 dB. But this is far from reality.

Armed with a sound level meter, BT monitored noise levels on busy residential roads. Cunningham Road at 7 pm showed a reading of 72-78 dB, with the meter touching 80-85 dB frequently, as larger vehicles thundered past. Nandidurg Road, recently turned one-way, has become much noisier with meter readings between 78-85 dB. If trucks and motorcyles vroomed past, levels shot to 85-90 dB. And a truck’s pressure horn fetched a reading of 98 dB. Speeding autos showed 78-85 dB. At 8 am, buses, autos and trucks recorded 85 dB.

At 11 am outside a hospital silent zone near Richmond Circle, it read 70-75 dB, while idling traffic was 65-70 dB. Residency Road at 11.15 am showed readings of 78-88 dB.

Marketing professional Sunita Rocque is fed up of the noise on Nandidurg Road where she lives. “I’m going bananas,” she says, “People honk for no reason.” Evenings are mayhem, and she dare not even open her balcony doors. No wonder. With the pain threshold for noise at 120-140 dB, Bangaloreans are running pretty close. “Noise is toxic, but people don’t realise it’s dangerous to health,” says Hans Schmid of Canada’s Right to Quiet Society.

NIMHANS audiology department’s Dr N Shivshankar says, “Noise first affects higher frequencies. It’s only when it starts affecting communication, which is made at lower frequencies, that it becomes apparent.”

Dr Rajan Balasubramanium, resident of Sankey Road, says a chance audiogram revealed he suffered from 30 per cent hearing loss. “Though there’s no immediate effect, living near a noisy road is bound to affect hearing over time. And while laws are in place, there’s lack of public awareness and the government isn’t doing enough to resolve the situation.” The police and the transport commissioner have a role to play, he says. Use a sound meter, identify the biggest culprits — in this case, buses, trucks and autos which use modified mufflers, and take action.

Studies in Austria found schoolchildren exposed to an average noise level greater than 50 dB learned slower than others. Long-term noise over 60 dB damages health, causing high BP, coronary disease, ulcers and higher stress hormone levels, studies reveal. A 10 dB increase in noise represents a tenfold increase in noise intensity.