Comparative Noise Pollution Study Of Some Major Towns In Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Comparative noise pollution studies have been carried out in some major towns in Delta State, Nigeria using a P IONneer 65 noise dosimeter. The noise measurements were taken at ten points within each of the towns at an interval of 30 minutes during the peak period of the day and at the cool of the night. The results obtained indicate that the day time equivalent noise level for Warri exceeded the WHO permissible limit of 90dB. All other locations have an equivalent noise level lower than the WHO limit but within the range of 75dBA to 85dBA. The peak noise measurement for the day time exceeded the WHO permissible limit for all the towns except at Abraka with peak of 76.2dBA. At night, the area exhibits a quiet atmosphere for both the equivalent noise level as well as the peak noise measurements. The reason for the high value of noise in some places was due to automobile plying the road at a slow speed as observed in Warri and other places. Other reasons were due to the use of electricity generators resulting from the persistent public power supply failure, commercial motorcycles, recording houses and those using music to promote sales of their wares. KEY WORDS: Noise, Pollution, Permissible, Annoyance, Protection Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(2) 2005: 285-290