THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION ON AUTO-DRIVER’S HEALTH IN SELECTED AUTO-ROUTES: THE CASE OF KOLKATA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
Keywords:
Traffic noise pollution, human health, diseasesAbstract
The growing menace of noise pollution is one of the crucial environmental issues in modern era across the world. This is a silent killer of the physical as well as psychological health of human being. The existing findings in Indian context show that Kolkata is amongst the polluted city primarily because of high population base and growing surface transportation system. In the light of this, the present study addresses the main source of noise pollution viz. traffic noise pollution and its likely impact upon the occupationally exposed public auto drivers who spends more than eight hours on few selected busy traffic sites of the city. The study uses the primary data for the period 2011 to 2013 which includes busiest road intersection as well as auto depots from different parts of the city. The finding reveals that the year 2013 is the noisiest year and this also reported the highest numbers of auditory disorders on auto-drivers heath. Apart from this, during this year highest numbers of irritation and low tolerance level cases have also been registered on auto-drivers heath. Amongst all the survey sites, Ultadanga site from northern parts, Howrah Bridge Approach site from Central parts and Behala 14 no. bus stand site from southern parts have been considered as highest noisy sites in the city where highest numbers of health disordered have also been registered throughout the entire study period.
Downloads
References
Sharp, B.H., and Donovan, P.R.(1979). Motor Vehicle Noise, In C.M. Haris(Ed.), Handbook of Noise Control ( 2 nd ed.), New York: Mac Graw Hill Book Company.
Skanberg, A. and Ohrstrom, E.(2002). Adverse Health Effects in Relation to Urban Residential Soundscapes, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol, 250, No.1, 151-155.
West Bengal Pollution Control Board (2013). Annual Report, Kolkata.
World Health Organization (2007). Annual Report, Geneva.
Table Used Agarwal, S.K (2009). Noise Pollution, New Delhi: APH Publication Pvt Ltd
Aslam, M.J, Aslam, M.A and Batool, A (2008). Effects of Noise Pollution on Hearing of Public Transport Drivers in Lahore City. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. Vol. 24, No.1, 142-146.
Bugliarello, G., Alexander, A., Barnes, J., and Wakstein, C.(1976). The Impact of Noise Pollution: A Socio-Technological Introduction. New York: Pergamon Press.
Chakraborty, D., Santra, S.C., Mukherjee, A.L., Roy, B and Das, P (2002). Road Traffic Noise in Calcutta Metropolis, India, Indian Journal of Environmental Health, Vol 44, No.3, 173-180.
Khan, Z.A and Khan, Z (2003). Effects of Noise Pollution: An Overview, Everyman’s Science, Vol. XXXVII, No. 4, 237-240.
Kryter, K.D (1994). The Handbook of Hearing and the Effects of Noise: Physiology, Psychology and Public Health. San Diago, California: Academic Press.
Kryter, K.D (2004). The Effects of Noise on Man, New York: Academic Press.
Pancholy, M., Chhapgar, A.F and Singal, S.P (1967): Noise Survey in Calcutta. Journal of Scientist in Indian Residentials., Vol.26, 314-316
Park, K (2005). Park’s Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jabalpur: M.S Bansari Das Bhanot Publishers.
Rao, V., Rao, B.V and Vittal Murthy, K.P.R (1987). Traffic Noise Pollution at Three Important Junctions at Visakhapatnam, Indian Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol.7, 21-26.
