Noise and human health

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Noise and human health

Institute of Geography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Summary

automotive industry noise

A developed transport network means big advantages for a society. Meanwhile, the development of this economic area affects the components of biosphere, chiefly the atmospheric air and soil cover. In addition to the harmful environmental effects of transport, the negative impact of noise may happen, too. This problem typically is faced in recent decades throughout the world as well as in Azerbaijan Republic, while the rapidly growing motor industry is the main source of the impact of noise. This work deals with the study of intensity of noise, caused by motor vehicles, and its impact on human health. The research was carried out by the 208 km-long highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border (M-1), which passes the lowland of Samur-Davachi, the north-eastern part of Azerbaijan.

Key words: noise, health, highway, traffic, population.

Introduction

The areas of 100 m of width along the studied highway are 30800 hectares in total (See Figure 1).During the field researches carried out by us, the substations of observation were defined in order to survey noises and their impacts by the three different parts of the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border. Sound ranges of noises, caused by vehicles of different kinds were studied by quarters of years through the use of `SVAN947' device in these substations.

The first place of survey was chosen by the 18th km part of the highway

The place of the second point of survey was selected by the 146 th km part of the highway near Sunny village of Guba administrative area.

The third point was defined by the 195th km part of the highway.

Materials and method. The issues of this kind were broadly studied in a number of countries of the world (Simandonis, 1981; Wilson R., 1996; Pavlova, 2004; Tolsky, Butakova, Melnikova, 1995; Lukanin B. N., Gudtsov B. N., Bocharov N. F. 1981) while similar researches have been carried out weakly in Azerbaijan. The highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border is one of the three main highways of Azerbaijan, characterized by high traffic.

Fig. 1. Map-scheme of the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border

Fig. 2. Average daily intensity of traffic (number of vehicles) by the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border (M-1)

As seen from Figure 2, the total number of vehicles grows by the first point (approximately by 10%) and the second point (by up to 15%) of survey, while the decrease at 31% by the third point is related to the problems observed in the border checkpoint in regard to trade operations between Azerbaijan and Russian Federation, as well as the conduction of reconstruction and construction works. However, taking into account the perspectives of the transport corridor of North-South passing the territory of Azerbaijan, the number of motor vehicles is expected to be increased significantly in the near future.

The main sources of noise observed in the highways are the certain parts of motor vehicles, namely engine, gearbox, leading bridge, ventilator, pipe of exhaust gases, pumping pipe and wheels. In the meantime, such factors as relief of territory, composition and quality of highway, density and altitude of buildings, technical conditions of vehicles, traffic speed and regularity, the existence of greening areas are also responsible for the intensity of vehicles-related noise [1, 3, 4].

The impact of noise and related measures is regarded as the most urgent problems throughout the world in recent decades, although the problem is being studied scientifically from the end of the 19th century when the effects of noise on the human health was experienced due to the rapid development of industry. In 1868, the German scientist H. Helmhols (1821-1894) for the first time scientifically explained the physiology of hearing and vision. Since that time, studies on the negative impact of manufacturing (smiting, clinching etc.) on the hearing ability of humans were conducted from different aspects. The strength of noise, measured by dB is defined by the amplitude of oscillation in its source.

For many years it was believed that the noise affects only the hearing organs. Therefore, for a long time the impact of noise on health was studied mainly from view of hearing. However, studies carried out by Tolski, Butakova, Melnikova(1995), Lukanin, Gudsov, Bocharov(1981) and other researchers revealed that the noise may be responsible for the origination of nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, the chronic fatigue, the weakening of mental ability and memory, and may complicate the normal rest and power. It was defined that “acoustic pollution” may reduce the human life by 10-12 years in average.

According to researchers, noise is a biological irritator, affecting the human body and all organs and systems of human body generally and leading to different physiological changes. It is known that noise affects human health psychologically even if happens not at high frequency. Psychological impact of noise may cause insomnia, neurosis and atherosclerosis, particularly in regard those who are engaged in intellectual labor. It was revealed that noise of 30-35 decibels should be regarded as ordinary, and such level of noise does not cause inconvenience for people, while noise of 30-35 decibels may lead to reduction of hearing sensitivity and even loss of hearing. From medical point of view, limit of human endurance in regard to noise is 80 decibels, whereas 150 decibels may have killing effect. The allowable limit is 50 decibel for daily hours and 40 decibels for night time [1, 3, 4, 8].

In this work, the noise happening at different highways is counted in accordance with the formula offered by (12).

where E -- is the amount of noise in tote;

h -- is the number of vehicles, passing the observation posts within an hour;

P -- is the amount of actual noise, observed within an hour;

P2 -- is the amount of allowable noise within an hour;

Here it should be noted that the permitted level of noise is 56 dB in the country since this indicator is identified by the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan Republic.

As seen from Figure 3, in the areas located up to 10 m off the edge of highway, the difference between the total amount of real noise caused by cars and the total allowed amount of voice an hour makes up -56.336 dB. The 50 m long distance from the highway means the reduction of this indicator by 2,3 times whereas the voice wasn't observed at 100 m long distance. As for lorries, the reduction makes up only 1,4 times by 50 m long distance, while 100 m long distance means reduction at 1,3 times, which should not be regarded as satisfactory. In other word, lorries, moving along highways are the main sources of noise pollution that affects the health of population in the studied territory. This conditions has much adverse effect on the aged people and infants between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., i. e. when they are at home as usual.

The impact of high-level voice of traffic on health is different by various groups of ages. As World Health Organization (WHO) indicates, the reaction to noise depends on age, sex and conditions of health. The voice may have peculiar effect on the health of infants, old people and females, and particularly pregnant women. As usual, human body may suffer from noise at 60-70 dB such exposure happens in a short time. For example, 72% of old people wake up due to the noise of certain level while that noise may have similar effect only on 1% of infants at 7-8 years of age. The limit of noise capable to wake up infants is 50 dB, while the indicator equates 30 dB for old people. Older people heavily suffer from high and continuous noise, since the related effect may elevate their blood pressure, lead to the weakening of their heartbeat and cause the narrowing of their blood vessels.

Table. Amount of noises above the allowed limit, caused by vehicles an hour at the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border (in decibels, 2015 year)

1. The noisepollutianof highextent rr^unl; l^e regarded as one of the reasons, responsible for the spread of various deceases among the population, livingntar the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border.

2. Since the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border is characterized by high traffic and considerable growth of vehicles, the negative consequences of related noise pollutiono n the health of populationalongthis highway (up to 100 m of vicinity) should be prevented by relevant agencios threugh tlLeconductian ofoapro- priate measures.

3. The noise pullutioa encem pasaev the set°lumengs and the arable lands, located along with the highway of Baku-Guba-Russian border. With taking this into account,tdi conductionoOneeded measurnsmnstco n- cern the population, both living and working in these teeao^nthis со nnection, the creation of greening belts along the highway should be conducted to reduce the impact of noise.

4. Awareness of vulnerable group of population -- infants, pregnant women and older people about the egative impact of noise pollution must be ensured to reduce the relevant risk.

This tcook wao csrticd ou° duc as fmsncislsn^urt of Science Development Foundation under the Preside!-; op Tepu°lic ou Aterbmjan. Grant; № SDa-2hTt-9 (15)-46 / 26/2-M-02.

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