letter to editor regarding noise pollution
Answers
Apropos your Editorial and a few news items on Environmental Pollution published recently, I want to underline the problem of noise pollution in the big cities and towns of our country. It has been causing damage to thousands of people. If it goes on increasing at the present rate, it is estimated that by the turn of the present century only a few people above the age of ten will have normal hearing capacity in many of our most industrialized cities.
Many of us are still not aware how dangerous is noise pollution. It is ubiquitous and all around emanating from continuous traffic, industries; factories, workshops, household activities, construction work, the aeroplanes flying above, rock and pop music and the loudspeakers used for various purposes including marriages, religious preachings and entertainment.
Noise harms us in so many ways. It disturbs our sleep, rest, peace, and causes irritation, annoyance and mental tension. It interrupts the flow of our thoughts and adversely affects both our mental and physical health.
Sometimes, a noise may not arouse us from sleep, but certainly it affects badly our rest at the level of quality and quantity. It may go unnoticed, but it certainly produces profound psychological changes in the human body. Frequent loud noise may cause decreased flow of blood in the small vessels, dilation of pupils, tensing of muscles, digestive upsets, nervousness and anxiety. It lowers the working efficiency, especially in workers requiring concentration and accuracy. The most glaring harmful effect of noise is in the form of gradual loss of hearing.
Noise control laws are there, but they are not of much help because they are not strictly enforced by the authorities. Only increased public awareness can deal with the menace, which is growing more and more dangerous day by day. Noise should be checked, and kept within safe limits. It is the duty of the government and administration to see that noise does not pose a danger to the well being of the citizens. Factories, workshops and repair shops of vehicles, etc located in the residential areas should be removed immediately.
Heavy vehicular traffic should not be allowed in the city during the peak hours. Blowing of horns, etc should also be checked. A new concept suggests that planting of trees can also reduce the noise pollution to some extent. Moreover, uncontrolled and unnecessary noise should be checked by strict enforcement of rules and regulations. The public should also cooperate with the authorities. Without public cooperation nothing appreciable can be achieved. The use of loudspeakers should be totally banned, especially in the areas having schools, hospitals, libraries, etc.
Yours truly,
Answer:
Shiv Murti, New Delhi
Dated 20th November 2019
To
The Editor-in-Chief,
The Hindustan Times,
New Delhi.
Subject: Noice pollution, effects of noice pollution and prevention.
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed national newspaper, I would like to express my concern on the increasing noice pollution especially in our cities and industrialised areas. Noise pollution causes different adverse effects on the physical and mental well-being of the the people.
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution means any unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious effects on human health and environmental quality. Noise pollution, also known as environmental noise, is commonly generated inside many industrial facilities and some other workplaces, but it also comes from highway, railway, and airplane traffic and from outdoor construction activities. Noise pollution or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise with harmful impact on the activity of human or animal life. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport, and propagation systems.
Negative Effects:
Unwanted sound (noise) can damage physiological health. Noise pollution can cause hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful and disturbing effects. Noise is any disturbing or unwanted sound, and noise pollution affects people's health and quality of life. Prolonged high levels of noise can cause hearing loss and stress-related illnesses. Noise often affects children more than adults, and noise pollution also affects general well-being.
Control Measures:
We can Reduce Noise pollution by turning off appliances when not in use, use of earplugs, lowering the volumes of sound systems, planting more trees as they absorb noise, regular maintenance of vehicles and machines etc.
By controlling noise we can reduce negative health effects that noise pollution has on everyone.
Yours sincerely,
ARCHANA
New Delhi, Delhi