5 Examples of Noise Pollution Explained
Examples of noise pollution are; occupational exposure to noise from heavy industrial blowers in steelworks, highway traffic noise, regional disturbance from festive gatherings and rallies, short-term, narrow-range noise pollution by aircrafts, and acoustic disturbance from natural sources like hailstorms.
This article discusses the examples of noise pollution, as follows;
1). Occupational Exposure to Noise from Heavy Industrial Blowers in Steelworks (as one of the Examples of Noise Pollution)
The exposure of workers in various industries to loud sounds from machines and activities, is one of the most common and hazardous examples of noise pollution in the modern era, and is often discussed within the same context as other modern-day phenomena like industrialization and urbanization.
Industrial machinery noise is caused by mechanical energy transfer and conversion; which is accompanied by significant levels of friction, oscillation, hydrodynamic turbulence and forceful impact.
Types of industrial noise are; low-frequency, high-frequency, intermittent and continuous, which are differentiated by the nature, timing and intensity of occurrence.
Some causes of noise pollution in the industrial sector may be less-hazardous on a spatiotemporal (that is; space-and-time) basis than others. One of the most hazardous noise sources/causes in industry is the technological system called a blower.
Large blower systems are used where there is need to provide high-energy instantaneous convective air currents and is common in industries that depend on thermal energy and combustion processes; like the steelworks industry.
The main source of noise in blowers is intense aerodynamic and solid-state friction between air currents and moving mechanical components, like blades.
Other aero-mechanical technologies like wind turbines and gas turbine-engines also experience such friction, but tend to have less surficial exposure to air because there is minimal backward reflection of projected gas-streams.
This makes them generally less-hazardous than industrial blowers, although still noisy. Also, the extent and proximity of exposure of humans to noise from other aero-mechanical systems tends to be less than for industrial blowers.
Many industrial blowers produce noise above 100 dB (Decibel Units), which can cause hearing loss on short-term exposure for many individuals.
High-power blast-furnaces that are also used in the steel industry can produce harmful noise, while simultaneously exposing workers to intense heat [3].
Other sectors of industry like mining and food processing make use of blowers and similarly-noisy equipment, including ore-crushers [2] [5].
2). Highway Traffic Noise
Automobiles make noise on the highway as they travel; with the intensity of noise often being proportional to the speed of motion or acceleration.
Traffic noise pollution is the acoustic environmental degradation or disturbance caused by automobiles on highways. It is a serious socioeconomic and environmental issue because of the ever-growing need for transportation to support the world's population and commercial activities.
The components of automobiles that cause noise pollution are mainly mechanical, most of which occur in the engine compartment. These, alongside the combustion of fossil fuel-energy resources, are the reason why road transport is strongly related to noise and air pollution.
Internal components, and accessories of vehicles like horns, sirens and multimedia, may also cause significant noise if unregulated or improperly used.
An example of noise pollution in transportation is the combination of 60 dB cranking sounds from the engine of an accelerating vehicle, with 85 dB of intermittent honking from the interior of the same vehicle.
Highway traffic noise is an epidemic in areas with high economic activity and/or regional overpopulation issues. It is linked to higher risks of hypertension in individuals [4], and is behind some proposed solutions to noise pollution like energy transition and electric vehicle adoption.
3). Regional Disturbance from Festive Gatherings and Rallies (as one of the Examples of Noise Pollution)
An example of noise pollution in many neighborhoods and regions is that which comes from large-scale social activities like festive gatherings, recreational events and public rallies.
Noise pollution from social gatherings can be particularly impactful because it tends to come from multiple sources, including automobile traffic and electrical sound-amplifiers like speakers.
Studies also show that the use, and performance, of fireworks in festive events can be a cause of severe noise pollution [7].
Controlling and preventing noise pollution from social gatherings can go a long way to protect vulnerable individuals from various hazardous effects including; sleep disturbance, anxiety and psychological stress [6].
4). Short-term, Narrow-range Noise Pollution by Aircrafts
Aircrafts make various types of noise, which are mostly medium to high-intensity sounds of a persistent nature; during their flight operations.
The two general sources of noise from aircrafts are; roto-mechanical friction and surficial air-current friction in the engine section and exterior surface of the craft respectively.
Noise pollution from aircrafts occurs because of the combustion of aviation fuel, and the impact of air currents on turbines and aerodynamic (streamlined) surfaces of the craft. These processes can be particularly energetic because of the airborne, high-velocity nature of aircraft navigation.
The range of intensity of aircraft noise is about 60 to 140 dB, which depends on size, flight-stage, speed of aircraft and atmospheric conditions (like air-pressure) among others.
Aircraft noise affects people detrimentally, especially when these people are subjected to continuous and/or prolonged exposure [1]. Excessive exposure goes along with higher risk of hypertension and other stress-related ailments.
Adjectival terms like short-term and narrow-range can be used when describing aircraft noise pollution to indicate that it is less persistent and geographically-versatile than road traffic noise.
5). Acoustic Disturbance from Natural Sources like Hailstorms (as one of the Examples of Noise Pollution)
Types of natural noise pollution include hydrological, meteoric, and lithic noise pollutions respectively.
Hailstorms involve the torrential release of frozen water to the Earth's surface. It is an example of a meteoric process of natural noise pollution, mostly because of the loud sounds that result from wind, thunder, and soil-water collision during hailstorms.
Thunderstorm is another example of natural noise pollution, which results from electrical discharge from clouds.
Other natural systems and features like volcanoes and oceans can also act as sources of noise pollution through the dynamics of pressure and action of gravity and electromagnetism on waves, among other mechanisms.
Conclusion
Examples of noise pollution are;
1. Occupational Exposure to Noise from Heavy Industrial Blowers in Steelworks
2. Highway Traffic Noise
3. Regional Disturbance from Festive Gatherings and Rallies
4. Short-term, Narrow-range Noise Pollution by Aircrafts
5. Acoustic Disturbance from Natural Sources like Hailstorms
References
1). Basner, M.; Clark, C.; Hansell, A.; Hileman, J. I., Janssen, S.; Shepherd, K.; Sparrow, V. (2017). "Aviation Noise Impacts: State of the Science." Noise Health. 2017 Mar-Apr;19(87):41-50. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_104_16. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
2). Forouharmajd, F.; Shabab, M. (2015). "Noise Pollution Status in a Metal Melting Industry and the Map of Its Isosonic Curve." Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences 7(4). Available at: https://doi.org/10.17795/jjhs-30366. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
3). Golmohammadi, R.; Darvishi, E. (2019). "The combined effects of occupational exposure to noise and other risk factors - a systematic review." Noise Health. 2019 Jul-Aug;21(101):125-141. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_4_18. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
4). Huang, J.; Yang, T.; Gulliver, J.; Hansell, A. L.; Mamouei, M.; Cai, Y. S.; Rahimi, K. (2023). "Road Traffic Noise and Incidence of Primary Hypertension: A Prospective Analysis in UK Biobank." JACC Adv. 2023 Mar;2(2):None. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100262. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
5). Ibrahim, I. B.; Aremu, A. S.; Ajao, K. R.; Ojelabi, A. T. (2015). "Evaluation of Noise Pollution and Effects on Workers during Wheat Processing." Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management 18(4):599. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v18i4.6. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
6). Oguntunde, P. E.; Okagbue, H. I.; Oguntunde, O. A.; Odetunmibi, O. O. (2019). "A Study of Noise Pollution Measurements and Possible Effects on Public Health in Ota Metropolis, Nigeria." Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Apr 29;7(8):1391-1395. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.234. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
7). Passos, R. S.; Rocha, C.; Carvalho, A. P.; da Silva, L. B.; Silva, R. (2021). "Environmental noise exposure assessment from fireworks at festivals and pilgrimages in Northern Portugal." Applied Acoustics 181(3):108143. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108143. (Accessed 10 May 2023).
