Q.14 What is noise pollution? What are the
various effects of noise pollution? (AKTU. - 2008-09)
Related
Questions -
Q. What
are noise pollution? Discuss the effect of noise on the human being. (AKTU. - 2012 - 13)
Ans. Noise
Pollution: -
The word ‘Noise’
is derived from the Lattin word nausea meaning ‘seasickness’; it refers to a
loud sound that may cause sickness. High levels of noise that lead to
discomfort and health hazards cause what is known as noise pollution. Noise
pollution refers to loud sound created by humans or machines that may disrupt
the environment and hinder the normal living of organisms in it.
Effects of Noise Pollution: -
Noise is generally harmful and a
serious health hazard. It has far-reaching consequences and has many physical,
physiological as well as psychological effects on human beings.
(i)
Physical Effects: -
The physical manifestation of
noise pollution is the effect on hearing ability. Repeated exposure to noise
may result in temporary or permanent shifting of the hearing threshold of a
person depending upon the level and duration of exposure. The immediate and
acute effect of noise pollution is impairment of hearing (i.e. total deafness.)
(ii)
Physiological Effects: -
The physiological manifestation of noise
pollution are several as mentioned below:
(a) Headache by dilating blood vessels of the
brain.
(b) Increase in the rate of heart-beat.
(c) Narrowing of arteries.
(d) Fluctuations in the arterial blood pressure by
increasing the level of cholesterol in the blood.
(e) Decrease in heart output.
(f) Pain in the heart.
(g) Digestive spasms through anxiety and dilation
of the pupil of the eye, thereby causing eye-strain.
(h) Impairment of night vision.
(i) Decrease in the rate of colour perception.
(j) Lowering of concentration and affect on
memory.
(k) Muscular strain and nervous breakdown.
(iii)
Psychological Effect: -
The psychological manifestation of noise
pollution are:
(a) Depression and fatigue which considerably
reduces the efficiency of a person.
(b) Insomnia as a result of lack of undisturbed
and refreshing sleep.
(c) Straining of senses and annoyance as a result
of slow but persistent noise from motorcycles, alarm clocks, call bells,
telephone rings etc.
(d) Affecting of psychomotor performance of a
person by a sudden loud sound.
(e) Emotional disturbance.
Q.15 What is the connection between the
environment and human health?
Ans. Humans have always been affected by the natural environment.
Changes in climate and any extreme weather conditions affect us. A change in
season increases pollen in the air, causing respiratory problems in susceptible
people. This happens to many people in Bangalore, for example.
Sometimes, harmful substances
and organisms like viruses and bacteria get into the body and cause discomfort
or disease. They enter the body through the air, food, or water. Normally, the
body’s immune system handles the invading organisms. When the person’s immune
system is weak, or the invading organism is strong, the body succumbs to the
disease.
Since the beginning of the
Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, however, human activities have been
affecting human health in a big way.
The World Health Organization
(WHO) defines environmental health as those aspects of human health that are
determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and psychosocial factors
in the environment. The term also refers to the theory and practice of
assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors in the
environment that can potentially affect the health of present and future
generations.
