Noise Pollution

• Noise — unpleasant or unwanted sound.
• Noise pollution — harmful effects on health and environment.
• Sources: traffic, factories, loudspeakers, construction.
• Prevention: silencers, plantation, rules on loudspeakers, ear protection.

1. Noise pollution — excessive noise causing discomfort, stress, hearing loss.
2. Sources — vehicles, aircraft, industries, crackers, loud music.
3. Effects — sleep disturbance, hypertension, partial deafness, affects animals.
4. Decibel (dB) — unit of sound level (intro); prolonged exposure above ~80 dB harmful.
5. Control — silencers, sound-absorbing materials, green belts, legal limits.
6. Real world — 'Silence zones' near hospitals/schools; headphone volume limits.

Measuring traffic noise near school gate

Step 1 — Use sound level meter (or app) at peak hour.
Step 2 — Record reading in dB (e.g. 75 dB).
Step 3 — Compare with safe limit (~60 dB for classrooms).
Step 4 — Suggest: speed breakers, no-horn signs, tree plantation.

• Calling all loud music music not noise (context matters — unwanted = noise).
• Misconception: only volume causes harm (duration matters too).
• Ignoring silence zones rules.
• Thinking ear damage only from physical injury.

• Define noise pollution.
• List three sources and two effects of noise pollution.
• Suggest two ways to reduce noise near your home.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Noise Pollution.