For health's sake, be quiet
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Ameer Hamza
Adrenaline levels in the body rise by an average of around 60 per cent when people are subjected to noise, say researchers of sound pollution. Those who understand the function of this hormone would be rightly alarmed. The measure of sound that is bearable for a human being is said to be between 60 to 65 decibels. But in our capital city ----- what with the busy traffic, the relentless honking, the use of 'banned' hydraulic horns, the construction activities, the human crush ---- it was well over 100 decibels on an average during the late 1990s. The cacophony since then has certainly risen manifold and its effects on the health of Dhaka dwellers are my no means small, ranging from deafness to headaches, heart disease, hypertension and other serious ailments.
Consider the sound coming from an ordinary television or tape recorder which could be as much as 120 decibels and if you happen to be living at Nikunja, Joashahara or Uttara you can have another 130 decibels added to the load of noise from airplanes taking off and landing at Zia International Airport. In fact, Zia has been identified as a point with the highest noise pollution in the whole city. Those living beside the railway track have to suffer an extra 98 decibels according to a survey of the state of noise pollution in Dhaka city, which also claimed that 80 per cent of auto-rickshaws and heavy vehicles were hard of hearing.
Interestingly, the word noise is derived from the Latin for 'nausea', an apt synonym for something with such far reaching consequences, if not kept within tolerable levels. It is high time we stopped abusing the ear, one of the most important organs lying so close to the brain and networking into many functions. Noise pollution has risen so much that it is feared that children's hearing ability may be affected even in the mother's womb. High time we all woke up to the hazards of too much noise and started acting against the mindless polluters. But unless it is recognized as a key factor in many serious illnesses, it can hardly be brought under control.
Research claims that although all noises are equally damaging, second-hand noise, like second-hand smoke, does the most damage because its nuisance potential is more .It can irritate and bring on aggression because it goes on without our consent, polluting the air, which can rightly be counted as people's common property. Those with the minimum civic sense would realize that no individual or group of people should have the license to broadcast their brands of noise as and when they please. Environmental activists should see to it that public broadcasts of noise remain at a tolerable level, if need be, through legislation. Such legislation exists in quite a number of countries. The city of Portland, Oregon, for example, has taken aggressive measures to protect its citizens. Persistent noise violators here can be cited multiple times in a single day and their fines raised to as much as $5000 !
If only something could be done to curb insensitive people in this city, who are found to use high-powered amplifiers for late-night musical shows on rooftops in residential areas ! This nuisance seems to have become a yuppie thing these days. In addition religious sermonizers are also following this fashion with mikes blaring relentlessly, regardless of other people's democratic right to peace and quiet. Civil society bodies should stand up and educate these violators, and mobilize public opinion for adequate action. For such noisy activity not only disturbs sleep but, as mentioned above, leads to many cardio-vascular and even psycho-somatic ailments. For health's sake, let us have some quiet!
Adrenaline levels in the body rise by an average of around 60 per cent when people are subjected to noise, say researchers of sound pollution. Those who understand the function of this hormone would be rightly alarmed. The measure of sound that is bearable for a human being is said to be between 60 to 65 decibels. But in our capital city ----- what with the busy traffic, the relentless honking, the use of 'banned' hydraulic horns, the construction activities, the human crush ---- it was well over 100 decibels on an average during the late 1990s. The cacophony since then has certainly risen manifold and its effects on the health of Dhaka dwellers are my no means small, ranging from deafness to headaches, heart disease, hypertension and other serious ailments.
Consider the sound coming from an ordinary television or tape recorder which could be as much as 120 decibels and if you happen to be living at Nikunja, Joashahara or Uttara you can have another 130 decibels added to the load of noise from airplanes taking off and landing at Zia International Airport. In fact, Zia has been identified as a point with the highest noise pollution in the whole city. Those living beside the railway track have to suffer an extra 98 decibels according to a survey of the state of noise pollution in Dhaka city, which also claimed that 80 per cent of auto-rickshaws and heavy vehicles were hard of hearing.
Interestingly, the word noise is derived from the Latin for 'nausea', an apt synonym for something with such far reaching consequences, if not kept within tolerable levels. It is high time we stopped abusing the ear, one of the most important organs lying so close to the brain and networking into many functions. Noise pollution has risen so much that it is feared that children's hearing ability may be affected even in the mother's womb. High time we all woke up to the hazards of too much noise and started acting against the mindless polluters. But unless it is recognized as a key factor in many serious illnesses, it can hardly be brought under control.
Research claims that although all noises are equally damaging, second-hand noise, like second-hand smoke, does the most damage because its nuisance potential is more .It can irritate and bring on aggression because it goes on without our consent, polluting the air, which can rightly be counted as people's common property. Those with the minimum civic sense would realize that no individual or group of people should have the license to broadcast their brands of noise as and when they please. Environmental activists should see to it that public broadcasts of noise remain at a tolerable level, if need be, through legislation. Such legislation exists in quite a number of countries. The city of Portland, Oregon, for example, has taken aggressive measures to protect its citizens. Persistent noise violators here can be cited multiple times in a single day and their fines raised to as much as $5000 !
If only something could be done to curb insensitive people in this city, who are found to use high-powered amplifiers for late-night musical shows on rooftops in residential areas ! This nuisance seems to have become a yuppie thing these days. In addition religious sermonizers are also following this fashion with mikes blaring relentlessly, regardless of other people's democratic right to peace and quiet. Civil society bodies should stand up and educate these violators, and mobilize public opinion for adequate action. For such noisy activity not only disturbs sleep but, as mentioned above, leads to many cardio-vascular and even psycho-somatic ailments. For health's sake, let us have some quiet!