Indians certainly know how to announce their arrival. It usually occurs with a rather inordinate amount of noise, not according even the basic courtesy of sparing the ear drums of fellow humans, not to mention that of animals.

Bullies on the roads believe that stepping on the pedals, brake or accelerator, must be accompanied by standing on the horn! While Jamshedpur prides itself on being a clean, green city, the monthly noise mapping of various areas of the steel city, has revealed results over which voices must be raised. Other than on the Golf Course, in every part of city, noise levels are above the prescribed norm. Decibel levels, dear colleagues, must fall!

What is noise pollution?
Loosely defined, any kind of unwelcome sound is noise pollution. It is a pollutant which intrudes in the common space of all people. While decibel levels is one factor, the time, place, duration, source and whether the listener has any control over it or not, are the other factors determining noise pollution. The tricky aspect of measuring this pollution is that it is transient. Once the unwelcome sound stops, the environment is free of it.

Moreover, the actual definition is subjective. While one individual may enjoy it, for another it could be a source of noise and human stress. This is the principle reason that many communities are fighting back, demanding that they have the right to control excessive noise pollution in public places.

The impact on human health
It might be easy to shrug off noise pollution (remember the person who talks too loudly on the mobile phone in a quiet restaurant). Study after study has found that community noise affects our lives. It disturbs our sleep, interferes with our children’s learning, suppresses our immunity and quiet frankly, increases the risk of a heart attack. Battles are ready to erupt over muffling airport noise. One wishes the same could be done with noisy three-wheelers as well.

Quiet Please!
Both, the noise and the duration of exposure, determine the potential for damage. Prolonged exposure to noise can trigger the body’s stress response, infusing the body with high levels of stress hormones and creating chronic stress, that extends far beyond our delicate ears. Remember the word “noise” is derived from the Latin word “nausea”. Therefore, apart from hearing loss it can induce a drop in our quality of life.