A Survey of Noise Pollution in Ado-Ekiti Metropolis Using Mobile Phone

Abstract

Noise is considered as the most pervasive pollutant, it constitutes the most disturbing among the city pollutants and is a serious urban crisis in Ado Ekiti metropolis. Noise pollution was monitored at five different locations in Ado-Ekiti, the capital town of Ekiti State of Nigeria. The study was done using a Virtual Instrument; a Sound Pressure Level mobile application installed on a mobile phone. The equivalent noise level using A-weighting was taken every fifteen minutes in each location between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm and the L Aeq,T of each location was calculated. Maximum L Aeq,6h of 105.40 dB was obtained in marketplace between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm while the minimum value of L Aeq,6h obtained for a residential area in the same period is 69.51 dBA. The residents are exposed to average noise levels of 75-98 dB (A) or more every day which is higher than the recommended value of 60 dBA by WHO. This is very dangerous to the health of the people in these areas, and the results obtained in this study are useful as reference and guideline for future regulations on noise limit to be implemented for urban areas in Nigeria.

Noise exposure levels and health implications on daily road side petty traders at some major roundabouts in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…The negative effects of noise pollution are multifarious to human health. These include annoyance, insomnia, low productivity at work, permanent ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), sleep disturbance and fatigue, psychological stress and stress related disease, psychological changes in heart beat and increased blood pressure (Dawal et al, 2007;Akinkuade and Fasae, 2015). The most conspicuous effect of noise pollution is damage to human hearing ability which may be temporary or permanent depending on the exposure time ( , 2002;Sheetal et al, 2006).…”

"Significant Human and Environmental Consequences of Traffic Noise in Jos, Nigeria"

“…The finding is reflective of the medical prevalence of sicknesses in Jos noticed during visitation to some hospitals in Jos such as; Plateau State Specialist Hospitals and Jos University Teaching Hospitals. Okokon et al [12], Ogunseye et al [2] and Akinkuade et al [13], reported that, long-term exposure to excessive road traffic noise and other noise-generating sources has many negative effects on human health and wellbeing such as hypertension, disturbed sleep, deafness, nervousness, breakdown, mental disorder, high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, inefficiency, insomnia, and impaired cognitive development in children. Also, Cai et al [15] reported that excessive noise exposure could be so severe to the extent that either a permanent loss of memory or a psychiatric disorder might occur.…”

“…Long exposure to excessive road traffic noise and other noisegenerating sources has many adverse effects on human health and wellbeing [12]. For instance, excessive road traffic noise exposure may cause deafness, nervousness, breakdown, mental disorder, high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, inefficiency, and insomnia [13]. Similarly, Dasarathy et al [14] reported that even a relatively low level of noise adversely affects human health.…”

Health Effects caused by Noise - The Case of Africa: Evidence in Literature from the Past 25 Years

“…Researchers found out that Eight (8) hours and beyond daily exposure to noise level ranging from 64.8 dBA to 98.0 dBA caused hearing impairments. Traffic was the major source of noise identified with others like music studios, night clubs, generators, construction sites and religious activities [10,11]. Oyedepo et al [5] analysed noise pollution in Illorin metropolis, Nigeria and showed that at 56 to 98 dBA, discomfort and irritation were experienced by inhabitants which also reduced productivity.…”