Assessment of Motorcycle Noise Exposure Levels (LAeq, dBA) at Various Noise Standards and Speeds

Abstract

Motorcyclists (n=26) average noise exposure levels (LAeq) were found substantially different for OSHA-HC (85 dBA), OSHA-PEL (78 dBA) and ACGIH/NIOSH (87 dBA) noise standards. A significant difference in LAeq, (p=.027) and engine capacity usage (p=.045) was found amongst gender. However, no observable association was found between the LAeq and motorcycle engine capacity (p= .462) and completion of a ride (p= .695). Thus, female riders were inclined to use lower motorcycle capacities, rode at lower speeds which resulted in lower noise exposure levels, in concurrence with longer ride durations. Overall, motorcyclists’ noise exposure level functions with the increasing speed (80km/h: 88 dBA). Keywords: Motorcycle noise; Dosimeter; Speed; Noise standards eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i15.2455.