ASSESSMENT OF NOISE POLLUTION IN CHIDAMBARAM TOWN

Abstract

Noise generally is known as unwanted and unwelcome sound. It is considered as the most pervasive pollutant besides the emission pollutants. Along with the increasing degree of air and water pollution, noise pollution is also emerging as a new threat to the inhabitants of Chidambaram town. Noise pollution generated from vehicles with its influence on life quality and the environment may be considered as a hot topic in scientific research and one of the main concerns of the world, especially in urban areas. Motorized traffic is one of the major sources of noise pollution in urban areas. Ambient noise level monitoring was carried out at various locations of the Chidambaram town during 2011(September –November).The data obtained was used to compute various noise parameters, namely equivalent continuous level (Leq), Noise pollution level (Lnp), Noise climate (NC), Percentile noise levels (L10, L50, L90).The comparison of the data shows that the noise levels at various locations of the Chidambaram town are more than the permissible limits. Vehicular traffic and air horns are found to be the main reasons for these high noise levels. This study examines the problems of reduction of individual's efficiency in his/her respective working places because of road traffic noise pollution in Chidambaram due to rapidly growing vehicular traffic. This paper deals with monitoring of the disturbances caused due to vehicular road traffic interrupted by traffic flow conditions on personal work performance. Traffic volume count and noise indices data were collected simultaneously at ten selected sites of the town. The noise level values for exceeded the standards set by the central pollution control board.