Traffic Noise Assessment in Urban Puducherry, South India

TL;DR

This study assesses noise pollution in urban Puducherry, finding most areas exceed safe limits, with traffic being a major contributor.

Contribution

The study provides a detailed noise assessment in urban Puducherry and identifies traffic as a key contributor to noise pollution.

Findings

92% of surveyed sites in urban Puducherry exceed CPCB daytime noise standards.

Silence zones were found to be more hazardous than industrial or residential areas.

Increased vehicle numbers and transportation systems are linked to higher noise levels.

Abstract

Background

Noise pollution is an emerging global problem that can affect people's well-being and mental and physical health. In India, six percent of people suffer hearing loss, and prolonged exposure leads to irreversible noise-induced hearing loss.

Objective

To assess the noise levels at selected residential, commercial, industrial, silence zones, traffic junctions, and related noise indices in urban Puducherry and compare them with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards.

Methods

The study was conducted using a cross-sectional noise survey based on the 2015 study sites in urban Puducherry using a sound level meter, analyzed the results with limits set by the CPCB standards, and calculated the various noise indices.

Results

In urban Puducherry, the noise level showing silence zones is more hazardous than industrial, residential, commercial, and traffic junctions. Out of the 36 sites surveyed, 33 locations are above the prescribed daytime limit by CPCB.

Conclusions

The noise assessment at selected sites in urban Puducherry shows that around 92% of study sites are well above the daytime standards of CPCB, highlighting an urgent need to curb noise levels. The findings revealed that increased noise at study sites could be due to the increased number of vehicles and transportation systems.

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