Evaluation of Noise Level in selected Markets in Jos-North, Plateau State

Noise is an unpleasant sound, being a product of urbanization and industrialization is now recognized as an emerged environmental nuisance (Nathaniel, 2007; Pathak, Tripathi and Mishra, 2008). Exposure to high levels of noise have differing effects within a given population, and the involvement of reactive oxygen species suggests possible avenues to treat or prevent damage to hearing and related cellular structures (Ingatius, 2016). Noise is an underestimated threat that can cause a number of shortand long-term health problems, such as sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects, poorer work, poor school performance, hearing impairment, among others. Public complaint about excessive noise is more often in the recent times, most especially at market places.Markets are conjunction of buyers and vendors gather for their commercial, economic and social transactions that created communities and their activities as they gather, result in noise pollution of the environment. The numbers of purveyors and buyers to the tune of hundreds to thousands to people gathered and coupled with the fact that these markets are operated in open spaces create a serious environmental noise problem (Akpan, 2018). Some of the purveyors in an attempt to advertise their products thereby attracting customers shout and blare loudspeakers in full volume which result in indescribable noise pollution. Herbal medicine vendors are not excluded from this act, Small power generating sets are used by some vendors to run their grinding machines, source of power and these constitute serious noise hazard as the machines themselves also produce noise (Akpan, 2018). Pathways are created within the market space and there high vehicular movement of trucks, Lorries, cars, tricycles, and even Abstract: Noise has been identified to be a silent killer yet, not much has been done to control its impact particularly in commercial centres of developing countries. this study evaluates and mapped noise level at notable commercial centres and selected markets in jos-north, plateau state with a view to underscore its existing harmful effects to the public.markets were purposively selected based on the intensity of relative activities observed at each point over time at locations such as, terminus, Gada-Biu and Katako market with a total of twenty-one (21) commercial (stalls) points using GPS coordinate points. Morning and evening records of noise level were recorded at the intervals of five (5) hours with sound level meter. The ArcGIS software was used for interpolation of the spatial distribution of noise level in selected study points at JosNorth as well as the equivalent noise level (leq). Noise level (db) for each stall was compared with permissive range provided by the regulatory body (NESREA), and it was observed that a majority of the points were above the stipulated standard of allowable noise level in human environment. Specifically, terminus market was within the range of 83.8db-90.4db, Gada-Biu was 84.5db-91.1db while Katako market was within the range of 75.4db-100.9db. Highest peak of noise level in study was Katako market 98.5db. Thus, implying high noise pollution generated from truck users and pushers activities at tuber food stalls, vehicular movement, cutting and milling machines and power generators. Thus suggested remedies to reduce the noise pollution were highlighted with a view to fight the health implications of high noise level among human beings patronizing such market on regular bases