ASSESSMENT OF NOISE POLLUTION IN CHIDAMBARAM TOWN

Abstract

Noise generally is known as unwanted and unwelcome sound. It is considered as the most pervasive pollu tant besides the emission pollutants. Along with the increasing degree of air and water pollution, noise pollution is also emerg ing as a new threat to the inhabitants of Chidambaram town. Noise pollution generated from vehicles with its in fluence 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, especia lly in urban areas. Motorized traffic is one of the major sources of noise pollut ion in urban areas. Ambient noise level monitoring was carried out at various locations of the Chidambaram town during 2011(Septe mber ‐November).The data obtained was used to compu te various noise parameters, namely equivalent continuous level (L eq ), Noise pollution level (L np ), Noise climate (NC), Percentile noise levels (L 10 , L50 , L90 ).The comparison of the data shows that the noise l evels 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 no ise 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 traffi c. This paper deals with monitoring of the disturba nces 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 sthe central pollution control board. Index Terms: Ambient noise, level, Noise pollution, Noise clima te, dB (A) decibel, Vehicular traffic .