Sound Pollution
Sound pollution also known as noise pollution is one of the most rampant pollutions we find in the world. Especially in urban cities and areas, the nuisance of sound pollution is steadily on the rise.
Sound pollution is a physical form of pollution. Sound pollution does not affect any element of our environment directly. So it does not have a direct effect on the land, air, soil, or any other such life-supporting elements. It actually affects the human population more directly. Essentially the excess of sound or noise, such that it causes disturbance and imbalances the day-to-day life of humans and animals is known as noise pollution.
While sound pollution is not fatal or lethal in any form to humans, it is still a very harmful form of pollution. All the sources of noise pollution are man-made in nature. One of the most common and harmful sources is the noise caused due to various transportation systems and motor vehicles in particular. Increasing traffic congestion, the sheer number of vehicles on the roads, the noise from unnecessary honking, etc. are all major contributing factors to sound pollution.
The other major source of noise pollution is industrial activities. Since the Industrial Revolution, the world has never slowed down manufacturing and other industrial activities. This has taken a toll on our environment in the form of land and air pollution. And now we can add noise pollution to the list. Factories, printing presses, mills, metal works, etc. are all contributing to the noise pollution of the area. Hence it is ideal to keep industrial areas and residential areas separate, but this is not always possible.
There are quite literally thousands of other sources such as loudspeakers, roadwork's, crackers, household noises, agricultural activities, that all are also harmful and cause some degree of noise pollution.
The effects of sound pollution are directly on humans and not on the environment as such. While these effects are not instantaneous there are some very serious effects of noise pollution that cannot be taken lightly. The effects of noise pollution are both physical and psychological or behavioural in nature.
The effects of noise pollution are many such as increasing noise pollution every day reduces the ability and ability of humans to work, sound pollution reduces the efficiency of concentration on a large scale due to fatigue, affects pregnant women most, and causes irritation and abortion, many diseases are caused by people like hypertension and mental stress, the sharp noise reduces the quality of the work and due to which the concentration level is low, if the level of sound is 80 dB to 100 dB then it causes temporary or permanent deafness in people, it damages the historic buildings, old buildings, bridges, etc. because it is very weak in the structure and the fast sound creates dangerous waves which harm their walls. Animals lose control over their brain and become very dangerous because the loud sound affects their nervous system. It affects trees and also causes poor quality production, etc.
Sound pollution has created an urgent need for general awareness about its sources, effects, and measures to prevent sound pollution. The high level of sound should be stopped at places like workplaces, educational institutions, residential areas, hospitals, etc. Young children and students, such as fast-moving activities, on any occasion, the use of fast-moving devices and equipment should be encouraged to not be included in, etc. Special occasions for fast-fire crackers like use of festivals, parties, weddings, etc. should be reduced. Topics related to noise pollution can be added to textbooks and various activities such as lectures, discussions, etc. can be organized in the school so that the new generation can become more conscious and responsible citizens.