Evaluation of Environmental Noise in Urban areas: A Noise Pollution Assessment Approach

Abstract

Noise Pollution has become a serious health issue nowadays and emerging as a serious pollutant. This study is carried out in three semiurban towns to evaluate the impact of noise pollution in these areas. A total of 69 locations are selected in Asansol, Bankura, and Midnapore town including the Silent, Residential, Commercial, and Industrial zone. Since the noise level varies with atmospheric conditions, hence the study is divided into premonsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. L1, L5, L10, L50, L90, L95, L99, Equivalent sound pressure level (Leq), Noise climate (NC), Noise pollution level (Lnp), and Noise traffic Index (TNI) were computed for evaluating the intensity of noise pollution. The result reveals that the equivalent sound pressure level (Leq) is much higher than the standards in all locations of the silent zones. Noise pollution level (Lnp) and Noise traffic Index (TNI) are also computed high in commercial and heavy traffic zones. The Noise climate (NC) value shows not much variation in noise intensity with pre-post and monsoon climates. This is a pioneer study on noise quality evaluation in these locations. This study will further help in preparing future management plans to combat noise pollution in these areas.