The health impacts of environmental noise are a growing concern. At least one million healthy life years are lost every year from traffic-related noise in the western part of Europe. This publication summarises the evidence on the relationship between environmental noise and health effects, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, tinnitus, and annoyance. For each one, the environmental burden of disease methodology, based on exposure-response relationship, exposure distribution, background prevalence of disease and disability weights of the outcome, is applied to calculate the burden of disease in terms of disability-adjusted life-years. Data are still lacking for the rest of the WHO European Region. This publication provides policy-makers and their advisers with technical support in their quantitative risk assessment of environmental noise. International, national and local authorities can use the procedure for estimating burdens presented here to prioritize and plan environmental and public health policies.

Burden of Disease from Environmental Noise: Quantification of Healthy Life Years Lost in Europe

Health and road transport in Pakistan

Objective: To study the effects of noise pollution on hearing of public transport drivers of Lahore city. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out at ENT Department, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, from February 1 st , 2003 to June 31 st , 2003. One hundred drivers of public transport, driving in Lahore city for more than 8 - 10 years were included in the study. These included 25 autorickshaw drivers, 25 taxi car drivers, 25 wagon drivers, and 25 bus drivers. All subjects were questioned according to a Performa. After wards ENT examination was carried out, followed by Pure tone audiometery. Results: The mean age of the drivers was 41.35 years. Most of them (51%) were driving from last 8 - 10 years. 65% of the subjects had noise induced hearing loss. (NIHL) 25% had normal hearing threshold and 10% had disabling hearing loss. Conclusions: Public transport drivers are exposed to excess noise on roads in Lahore and most of them are suffering from noise induced hearing loss.

Effect of noise pollution on hearing of public transport drivers in lahore city

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of traffic noise in the city of Karachi. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive, cross sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION: Karachi, August 2008. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six different sites were selected from busy locations in different areas of Karachi for study. Same persons made all recordings. Kamplex sound level meter (SLM3) with built-in calibrated condenser microphone was used for all recordings. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Two major roads of the city namely M.A Jinnah Road and Shahrah-eFaisal were selected for study. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Air traffic noise, Railway stations, vendors with their loudspeakers and loud music played on certain vehicles were all excluded from the study. RESULTS: Maximum level of noise was 110 dB (A), recorded from Autorikshaw & Motorcycles (without silencers) and Minibuses. Maximum noise was observed during the peak rush hours between 01.00 p.m. to 03.00 p.m. & 05.00 p.m. to 07.00 p.m. and was in the range of 110 dB (A) with a dip of about 5 ± 10 dB (A) between 03.00 p.m. to 05.00 p.m. The noisiest site was found to be M.A Jinnah Road (Merewether Tower & opposite K.M.C building). The mean values of noise level in the commercial and residential areas were 95.75dB (A) and 60 dB (A) respectively. CONCLUSION: Karachi is facing an enormous problem of exceedingly high levels of traffic noise, which is significantly higher than all the available international data.

Traffic Noise Pollution in Karachi, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To find out effect of road traffic noise on human beings in busy places of Karachi, working at these places and to compare its results with the previously done studies on this subject. METHODS: This prospective epidemiological study was designed to evaluate effects of Noise induced hearing Loss due to road traffic at different places (Gurumander, Tibet Centre, Marry Weather Tower) of Karachi. A sample of 125 cases were randomly selected who had noise exposure of 90 dB or above of their surroundings for more than 6 months. The study was conducted from October 1(st) 2013 to January 1(st) 2013. RESULTS: The minimum age was 18 years while maximum age was 47 years. The age group found most affected was from 23 years to 27 years. The males were 84% and females 16%. Subjects exposed to noise for more than 12 hours per day were 36.8%. Varying degree of hearing loss was evaluated in subjects where 17.6% were normal, 33.6% had mild hearing loss, 45.6% had moderate and 3.2% had moderately severe hearing loss. Traffic noise was found to bother 55.2% of subjects. CONCLUSION: Analysis of data indicates an enormous increase in noise levels as compared to previous studies. This study establishes that there exists a concrete direct link between NIHL and duration of exposure to noise above permissible levels. Traffic authorities should initiate measures to reduce the noise levels in the city particularly at more noisy places. Language: en

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Consequences of traffic noise in residents of Karachi, Pakistan.

The menace of noise is a by-product of civilization and its hazards are well known. Noise levels were measured in Karachi, at different places and at different times of the night and day, using an Amplaid noise meter. The leg for Karachi came to 80 dB (A), the General Noise Index x (G.N.I.) to 460, and the noise pollution level (N.P.L.) to 99 dB (A). These values are significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than the available international data. The sources of noise production were indentified as, the road traffic, human activity, industrial and civil works, mechanical and engineering workshops. The most noticeable sources of noise pollution in Karachi, are the autorickshaws, trail motor bikes and the fag horns of public transport (JPMA 39-62, 1989).

Zaidi Sh

Papers

Noise levels and the sources of noise pollution in Karachi.