Pollution is noise. Noise pollution

Among environmental impacts, noise pollution is identified, which is estimated as one of the most harmful to humans. All people have long lived surrounded by sounds, there is no silence in nature, although loud sounds are also very rare. The rustle of foliage, the twittering of birds and the rustling of the wind can not be called noise. These sounds are useful for a person. And with the development of technical progress, the problem of noise, which brings people many problems and even leads to illnesses, became topical.

Although sounds do not damage the environment and affect only living organisms, we can say that noise pollution in recent years has become an environmental problem.

What is sound?

The human hearing aid is very complicated. Sound is a wave oscillation transmitted through the air and other components of the atmosphere. These vibrations are perceived first by the eardrum of the human ear, then transmitted to the middle ear. Sounds pass through 25 thousand cells before being realized. They are processed in the brain, so if they are very loud, then they can lead to big health problems. The human ear is capable of perceiving sounds in the range of 15 to 20,000 vibrations per second. A lower frequency is called infrasound, and a higher frequency is called ultrasound.

What is noise

In nature there are few loud sounds, mostly they are quiet, favorably perceived by man. Noise pollution occurs when sounds merge and exceed the permissible limits. The strength of sound is measured in decibels, and noise of more than 120-130 dB already leads to serious disorders of the human psyche and is reflected in the state of health. Noise has anthropogenic origin and increases with the development of technological progress. Now, even in country houses and in the country, it's hard to hide from him. Natural natural noise does not exceed 35 dB, and in a city a person faces constant sounds in 80-100 dB.

Noise background above 110 dB is considered unacceptable and very harmful to health. But more often it can be encountered on the street, in the store and even at home.

Sources of noise pollution

The most harmful effect is made by sounds per person in large cities. But even in suburban settlements you can suffer from noise pollution caused by working technical devices at neighbors: lawnmower, lathe or music center. Noise from them may exceed the maximum permissible standards of 110 dB. And yet the main pollution is noise in the city. The source of it in most cases are vehicles. The highest intensity of sounds comes from highways, metro and trams. The noise in these cases can reach 90 dB.

The maximum permissible sound levels are observed during takeoff or landing of the aircraft. Therefore, if the layout of settlements is incorrect, when the airport is close to residential buildings, the noise pollution of the environment near it can lead to problems in people. In addition to traffic noise, a person is disturbed by the sounds of construction, operating climate installations and radio advertising. And modern man can not escape from the noise even in the apartment. Constantly turned on household appliances, TV and radio exceed the permissible level of sounds.

How Sounds Affect Man

Susceptibility to noise depends on the age of a person, the state of his health, temperament and even sex. It is noticed that women are more sensitive to sounds. In addition to the general noise background, the modern person is influenced by inaudible sounds: infrasound and ultrasound. Even their short-term effects can cause headaches, sleep disturbances and mental disorders. The influence of noise on humans has been studied for a long time, while in the ancient cities restrictions were introduced on sounds at night. And in the Middle Ages there was an execution "under the bell", when under the influence of constant loud sounds a person died. Now in many countries there is a law on noise, which protects citizens at night from acoustic pollution. But the complete absence of sounds also acts depressingly on people. A person loses efficiency and experiences severe stress in a soundproofed room. And noise of a certain frequency, on the contrary, can stimulate the process of thinking and improve the mood.

Harm of noise for a person

• Long exposure to sounds, even of low intensity, can cause increased pressure and upsetting of the cardiovascular system.
• There is a strong effect of noise pollution on brain activity. Constant noise causes aggressiveness, irritability, sleep disturbance and central nervous system depression.
• Long noise damages the visual and vestibular apparatus. The higher the intensity of sounds, the worse a person reacts to current events.
• A noise of about 90 dB causes hearing loss, and more than 140 dB can cause a rupture of the eardrums.
• With prolonged exposure to intense noise at 110 dB, a person experiences a feeling of intoxication, similar to an alcoholic one.

The impact of noise on the environment

• Constant loud sounds destroy plant cells. Plants in the city quickly wither and die, trees live less.
• Bees lose the ability to navigate with intense noise.
• Dolphins and whales are thrown ashore due to the strong sounds of working sonars.
• Noise pollution of cities leads to the gradual destruction of structures and mechanisms.

How to protect yourself from noise

A special feature of acoustic effects on people is their ability to accumulate, and a person is exposed to noise. Especially from this the nervous system suffers. Therefore, the percentage of mental disorders is higher among people working in noisy industries. For young guys and girls who constantly listen to loud music, the rumor after a while falls to the level of 80-year-olds. But, despite this, most people do not know about the dangers of noise. How can you protect yourself? It is recommended to use personal protective equipment, for example, earplugs or headphones. Soundproof windows and wall panels have spread. You should try to use at home as little as possible household appliances. Worst of all, when noise prevents a person from a normal sleep at night. In this case, it must be protected by the state.

Noise law

Every fifth inhabitant of a large city suffers from diseases associated with noise pollution. In houses located near large highways, the noise level is exceeded by 20-30 dB. People complain about loud sounds, issued by construction sites, ventilation, enterprises, road works. Outside the city, residents are annoyed by discos and noisy companies resting on the nature.

To protect people and give them a good sleep, in recent years, regional laws on silence have been increasingly adopted , regulating time in which loud sounds can not be made. On weekdays, this is usually the period from 22 pm to 6 am, and on weekends - from 23 to 9 hours. Violators are subject to administrative penalties and large fines.

Noise pollution of the environment in recent decades is becoming the most urgent problem of megacities. It is disturbing to reduce hearing in adolescents and increase the number of mental illnesses in people working in industries associated with severe noise.