5th Class Science Environmental Issues Noise Pollution

      Noise Pollution

It is the loud unwanted and undesirable sound. Sound at 80 decibel or more gives unpleasant experience and regarded as noise pollution. 90% of noise pollution is due to the noise produced by the motor vehicles etc.

Look at the following picture of the causes of noise pollution:

       Classification of Sound in Decibel (db)

Sounds                                         Decibel (db)

Normal talking                                      40 db

Whisper                                                 20 db

Aircraft                                                  120 db

Atomic explosion                                 200 db

Intensity of sound greater than 80 db causes noise pollution.

           Consequences of Noise Pollution

           Noise Causes Disease  

Our ears are sensible organs which work properly on a specific range of sound.

The brain receives the incoming signal from the ears and analyze it. If the intensity of sound increases, it can damage the nervous system and ultimately may lead to hearing loss. The intensity of sound, which is greater than the sensible capacity of our ears is called loud and unpleasant sound. The effect of unpleasant sound on our head is just like inserting nails in the sensitive head.  

         How to Protect Ourselves from Unpleasant Sound

Look at the following table to understand the method by which, we can protect ourselves from unpleasant sound::        

      Arwin is playing violin and his sister Tina is listening music from the loudspeaker. Which one of the two children is creating more noise pollution as compare to other?

(a) Arwin

(b) Tina

(c) Both Arwin and Tina

(d) Neither Arwin nor Tina

(e) None of these

Answer: (b)

Explanation 

Sound of violin is pleasant but sound of a loudspeaker is always noise because it is at high volume. Therefore, option (b) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect.

      Consider the following statements:

Statement 1: A fire engine produces noise pollution.

Statement 2: Leaves falling off a trees produces noise pollution.

Which one of the following is correct about the above statements?

(a) Statement 1 is true and 2 is false

(b) Statement 1 is false and 2 is true

(c) Both 1 and 2 are false

(d) Both 1 and 2 are true

(e) None of these

Answer: (a)

Explanation

Falling of leaves from the trees produces sound of very low decibel that doesn't come under pollution. Therefore, option (a) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect.   

 The WHO has estimated 25% death in developing countries are due to environmental problem.

Children, woman and old people are more vulnerable than male adults.

Developed countries put sufficient legal, political, cultural and social pressure on the polluters.

There are about 500 million cars in the world which is expected to be doubled by 2030.

A plastic milk jug takes million years to decompose.

More than 100 active pesticides ingredients are suspected of causing cancer.

Untreated sewage is a significant risk to human health and wealth.

Nitrogen is essential for crops but too much will leak into underground and rivers causing water pollution.