ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE POLLUTION FROM ROAD TRANSPORT AND OTHER SOURCES IN VARNA, BULGARIA

Abstract

The present research has been conducted in Varna – the third biggest city in Bulgaria in order to assess the environmental noise pollution from road transport and other sources. Noise monitoring has been done during the period 2007-2014 at 45 monitoring posts situated at: areas with intensive road traffic; areas with railroad traffic; areas with aviation noise; areas with marine traffic; industrial areas; built-up areas; recreation areas; hospitals and sanatoria; scientific research sites; quiet areas in open country. The noise pollution has been assessed through the daily equivalent sound levels LeqD in the environment that determine the degree of discomfort during daytime (07.00 – 19.00). Research results have been statistically interpreted by variation analysis and the differences have been estimated by Student-Fischer t-criteria. The dominant source of environmental noise pollution in Varna is road traffic. Sound levels at monitoring posts with intensive road traffic are considerably higher than the established limit value – LeqD vary between 69.28 and 71.72 dB(A) and exceed the limit value with 10-12 dB(A). At recreation areas the average LeqD exceed the limit value during the entire monitoring period. More intensive noise pollution has been observed from 2010 onwards as the increase is statistically reliable and the differences are of strong statistical significance (0.001 ≤ Р ≤ 0.05). At built-up areas the average LeqD are close to the limit value and a statistically reliable increase has been registered from 2010 onwards (P < 0.001). Different types of measures are discussed to reduce noise pollution mostly from road transport.