On the Noise Levels in Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in Jalingo, Taraba State: Are they in Conformity with the Standards?

Abstract

There are limits recommended for environmental noise and occupational noise by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Standardization Organization (ISO). Therefore, noise levels were assessed in four different schools in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State using a Lutron sound level meter, model SL – 4030. The aim of the study was to compare noise levels in the schools with the limits recommended by WHO and ISO, so as to make appropriate recommendations in case of undesirable results. The ANOVA statistical tool was used to demonstrate that the noise levels differ in the classrooms and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) statistics was used to show the significance of the variation of noise levels in the classrooms as suggested by the ANOVA. The mean equivalent noise levels (Leq (dB(A)) varied considerably above WHO recommended limits in classrooms. In the classrooms across all the schools, noise levels were within satisfactory range (61–75 dB(A)). This range however, exceeds the recommended noise limits in classrooms (35–55 dB(A)). Meanwhile, the control sample locations had mean noise level within the good range (41–60 dB(A)). It was also observed that at the control sites, mean noise levels were within the range recommended for classrooms during lessons. Higher noise levels than the endorsed limits by the WHO in the classrooms across all the schools are justifiable by so many factors such as: proximity to busy roads, students – Teacher’s activities and perhaps some acoustical reasons. Interestingly, the control of noise pollution in these schools to meet the international recommended standards is much possible if the recommendations from this study are obeyed.