Md.Altaf Hussain :
Noise pollution man-made noise harmful to health or welfare. Transportation vehicles are the worst offenders, with aircraft, railroad stock, trucks, buses, automobiles and motorcycles all producing excessive noise. Noise intensity is measured in decibel (dB) units. Subject to 45 dB of noise, the average person cannot sleep. At 120 dB the ear registers pain; hearing damage begins at a much lower level, about 85 dB. In Bangladesh noise pollution (also termed as sound pollution) is a major health hazard. In fact, due to noise pollution millions of people in Bangladesh are exposed to a number of health risks – from deafness to heart attack. On city streets noise pollution can be caused by hydraulic horns of vehicles, microphones and cassette players. The hydraulic horns used by buses, trucks and scooters in the crowded city streets are dangerous for human being. This is also how noise pollution in Dhaka City is affecting the hearing power of thousands of children everyday. The horns especially cause serious damage to children. Experts say, if a child below three years of age hears a horn emitting 100 dB of noise from a close range, he or she might lose his or her hearing power. A child’s health may also be adversely affected by loud sounds from the radio, television, cassette players and microphones, the sound of mills and factories and loud noise.
Motorbikes and private cars are the main sources of noise pollution in Bangladesh’s major cities, followed by public buses, says a new survey of the Department of Environment (DoE). The survey shows that public buses contribute relatively less noise than two other modes of transport, which indicates that introduction of public transportation can check the sound pollution in these cities.
The survey, conducted in eight cities earlier this year, reveals that motor bikes and private cars, on average, generate 95 decibel (dB) noise each in Dhaka city while buses contribute to about 44 dB.
In Chittagong, motorcycles and private cars generate 100 decibel (dB) sound each while public buses about 82 dB. In Sylhet, both motorcycles and private cars produced nearly 84 dB noise and buses generate only 40 dB sound.
The survey data shows that maximum 85 dB of sound is generated from motorcycles in Khulna, followed by 77 dB from private cars and 60 dB from public buses. In Barisal, motorcycles generate about 100 dB noise on average while 76 dB noise comes from private vehicles and 42 dB from public buses. In Rangpur, motorcycles produce about 100 dB noise while private vehicles 98 dB and public buses only about 66 dB. Motor bikes contribute to 80 dB sound in Rajshahi while private cars 68 dB and buses 46 dB of sound. In Mymensingh, the DoE data says, motorcycles and private cars contribute 88 dB of sound each while public buses only about 66 dB.
According to the statistics of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), there were 19.86 lakh registered motorcycles in October last, while 3.27 lakh private (passenger) cars and 43,154 buses across the country.
The number of the country’s registered motorcycles increased to 19,85,376 in October 2017 from 7,59,257 in 2010.
In the Dhaka metropolitan area, there were some 4.84 lakh registered motorcycles in August last, which was only 2.10 lakh in 2010 according to the BRTA statistics. The number of registered private cars is 2.55 lakh, while that of buses is 30,274 ones in the city. There were 32.17 lakh registered motor vehicles in October last in the country, while 11.50 lakh in August last in the Dhaka metropolitan area.
According to the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, the acceptable sound condition for Bangladesh is 50 decibel (dB) for daytime and 40 dB for the night in silent areas, 50 dB for daytime and 45 dB for the night in residential areas, 60 dB for the daytime and 50 dB for night in mixed areas (residential, commercial and industrial localities), 70 dB for daytime and 60 dB for the night in commercial areas and 75 dB for daytime and 70 dB for the night in industrial areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says generally 60 dB of sound can make a man deaf temporarily and 100 dB of sound can cause complete deafness. Experts say sound pollution causes mental and physical illness among people. It causes high blood pressure, headache, indigestion, ulcer, and also affects sleep. Anyone may become deaf for the time being if 100 dB or more noise pollution occurs for half an hour or more in any place.
The result of noise pollution is an increasing threat of hearing loss, annoyance and other adverse effects on health and well-being of our people. Noise pollution gets less attention in pollution discussion although the noise pollution level in the major urban centers of Bangladesh exceeds its legal standards. Noise pollution is not only disturbing but also has health implications. The number of people suffering from deafness as a consequence of noise pollution is increasing. This is mainly an urban phenomenon caused by vehicular congestion and affects the poor who work outdoors, for example the rickshaw-pullers, street vendors, small shopkeepers etc. Some regulation regarding use of horns, particularly banning hydraulic horns and raising public awareness against the habit of honking can help in solving this situation to a large extent
Writer is the Chairman of Green Club, Manikgonj
Noise pollution man-made noise harmful to health or welfare. Transportation vehicles are the worst offenders, with aircraft, railroad stock, trucks, buses, automobiles and motorcycles all producing excessive noise. Noise intensity is measured in decibel (dB) units. Subject to 45 dB of noise, the average person cannot sleep. At 120 dB the ear registers pain; hearing damage begins at a much lower level, about 85 dB. In Bangladesh noise pollution (also termed as sound pollution) is a major health hazard. In fact, due to noise pollution millions of people in Bangladesh are exposed to a number of health risks – from deafness to heart attack. On city streets noise pollution can be caused by hydraulic horns of vehicles, microphones and cassette players. The hydraulic horns used by buses, trucks and scooters in the crowded city streets are dangerous for human being. This is also how noise pollution in Dhaka City is affecting the hearing power of thousands of children everyday. The horns especially cause serious damage to children. Experts say, if a child below three years of age hears a horn emitting 100 dB of noise from a close range, he or she might lose his or her hearing power. A child’s health may also be adversely affected by loud sounds from the radio, television, cassette players and microphones, the sound of mills and factories and loud noise.
Motorbikes and private cars are the main sources of noise pollution in Bangladesh’s major cities, followed by public buses, says a new survey of the Department of Environment (DoE). The survey shows that public buses contribute relatively less noise than two other modes of transport, which indicates that introduction of public transportation can check the sound pollution in these cities.
The survey, conducted in eight cities earlier this year, reveals that motor bikes and private cars, on average, generate 95 decibel (dB) noise each in Dhaka city while buses contribute to about 44 dB.
In Chittagong, motorcycles and private cars generate 100 decibel (dB) sound each while public buses about 82 dB. In Sylhet, both motorcycles and private cars produced nearly 84 dB noise and buses generate only 40 dB sound.
The survey data shows that maximum 85 dB of sound is generated from motorcycles in Khulna, followed by 77 dB from private cars and 60 dB from public buses. In Barisal, motorcycles generate about 100 dB noise on average while 76 dB noise comes from private vehicles and 42 dB from public buses. In Rangpur, motorcycles produce about 100 dB noise while private vehicles 98 dB and public buses only about 66 dB. Motor bikes contribute to 80 dB sound in Rajshahi while private cars 68 dB and buses 46 dB of sound. In Mymensingh, the DoE data says, motorcycles and private cars contribute 88 dB of sound each while public buses only about 66 dB.
According to the statistics of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), there were 19.86 lakh registered motorcycles in October last, while 3.27 lakh private (passenger) cars and 43,154 buses across the country.
The number of the country’s registered motorcycles increased to 19,85,376 in October 2017 from 7,59,257 in 2010.
In the Dhaka metropolitan area, there were some 4.84 lakh registered motorcycles in August last, which was only 2.10 lakh in 2010 according to the BRTA statistics. The number of registered private cars is 2.55 lakh, while that of buses is 30,274 ones in the city. There were 32.17 lakh registered motor vehicles in October last in the country, while 11.50 lakh in August last in the Dhaka metropolitan area.
According to the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, the acceptable sound condition for Bangladesh is 50 decibel (dB) for daytime and 40 dB for the night in silent areas, 50 dB for daytime and 45 dB for the night in residential areas, 60 dB for the daytime and 50 dB for night in mixed areas (residential, commercial and industrial localities), 70 dB for daytime and 60 dB for the night in commercial areas and 75 dB for daytime and 70 dB for the night in industrial areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says generally 60 dB of sound can make a man deaf temporarily and 100 dB of sound can cause complete deafness. Experts say sound pollution causes mental and physical illness among people. It causes high blood pressure, headache, indigestion, ulcer, and also affects sleep. Anyone may become deaf for the time being if 100 dB or more noise pollution occurs for half an hour or more in any place.
The result of noise pollution is an increasing threat of hearing loss, annoyance and other adverse effects on health and well-being of our people. Noise pollution gets less attention in pollution discussion although the noise pollution level in the major urban centers of Bangladesh exceeds its legal standards. Noise pollution is not only disturbing but also has health implications. The number of people suffering from deafness as a consequence of noise pollution is increasing. This is mainly an urban phenomenon caused by vehicular congestion and affects the poor who work outdoors, for example the rickshaw-pullers, street vendors, small shopkeepers etc. Some regulation regarding use of horns, particularly banning hydraulic horns and raising public awareness against the habit of honking can help in solving this situation to a large extent
Writer is the Chairman of Green Club, Manikgonj
