New CEA regulations to check vehicle noise pollution

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa	Charitha Herath

The Ministry of Environment will introduce regulations soon to control vehicle noise pollution specially of horns said Central Environment Authority (CEA) chairman, Charitha Herath in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: What are the noises which disturb the environment.

A: Three noise categories have been identified.

Q: Has the CEA taken any action against this?

A: The CEA under Act No. 47 of 1980 introduced rules and regulations to control industrial noise and community noise. Rules and regulations for industrial noise were strictly adhered to during the past. The CEA clearance was granted only for the industries which were free from industrial noises.

Q: Can you elaborate on the rules which you will introduce to control vehicle horn noise?

A: At present most vehicle drivers, specially bus drivers, sound the horn with no concern towards the people or the environment. Some private bus drivers deliberately sound the horn to outflank rivals and take their turn.

No person shall use or cause to sound vehicle horns beyond the limits under noise control regulations.

Q: How are sound limits measured?

A: The equipment is there and also world accepted Sound Standards. Noise levels will be measured in terms of the sound pressure level SPL (Lamax) in decibels (dB) by using sound level metres conforming to Type One (1) of the British Standards (BS) measuring equipment as recommended by the CEA

Q: Are these limitations applied to all vehicles whether stationary or moving?

A: No, these regulations shall not apply to vehicles used to convey emergency information to the general public during emergency or disasters. Ambulances, trains, fire brigade vehicles, police vehicles, and vehicles used by armed forces are also exempted.

Q: Can you quantify environmental noises.

A: Environmental noises can be quantified in different terms, the frequency of the sound, the overall sound pressure levels and the variation of these levels with time. Sound pressure is the basic measurement of the variations of air pressure that make up sound.

Q: Could noise damage the human ear?

A: The human ear can respond only to the sounds of waves within the frequency (vibration/second) range of 20" - 2000 Hz usually the frequency range of our speech is between 100th 6000 Hz. It is axiomatic that the noise has become a major environmental polluter around the world.

Q: Who are the major noise polluters in Sri Lanka?

A: The major noise pollution in our country occurs around commercial locations, mobile noise makers, public address systems, household activities and entertainment events. A recent survey has identified motor vehicles as the leading noise polluter in Sri Lanka. According to the survey the noise mainly emits from vehicle engines and silencers, particularly of buses and lorries.

Some vehicle owners deliberately replace the factory fitted vehicle horns with louder air horns and also change the silencers to enhance the vehicle noise.

Q: What are internationally accepted vehicle horn noise?

A: The internationally accepted maximum level for a vehicle horn noise is 105 dB whereas in Sri Lanka it is evident that this value exceeds beyond 115 dB. The sudden shock caused by the vehicle horns may even lead to road accidents.

Q: The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) conducted a survey on the noise emanated from radios and cassette players in outstation buses on a request by the National Transport Commission. What was the outcome of that survey?

A: According to ITI, the main objective of that survey was two fold to evaluate the existing noise levels in buses and to evaluate the noise perception by the bus commuters.

The survey has revealed that the drivers and conductors responsible for introducing the noise are continually exposed to noise levels and face a very big risk of hearing impairment than the passengers themselves.

Q: Can you elaborate on the effect of noise on human health?

A: Noise causes many types of adverse health effects.

The most prevalent irreversible occupational hazard worldwide is noise - induced hearing impairment according to the WHO.

The main social consequence of hearing impairment is inability to understand speech in day-to-day life.

Noise interference with speech comprehension results in a large number of personal disabilities handicaps and behavioural changes such as problems in concentration fatigue, irritation decreased working capacity and a number of stress reactions.

Children living in noisy areas such as close to airports, industrial complexes and noisy streets are a proof to show that noise effects human physiological functions, according to the WHO.

Acute noise exposure also causes temporary changes such as increased blood pressure and heart beating. Susceptible individuals may suffer permanent effects such as hypertension and ischemic heart diseases as a result of prolonged exposure.