Impact of noise pollution from sawmill industries on human health

Introduction

Apart from the home, school and market, the work place is another environment that can influence or affect an individually health positively or negatively. Considering the types of challenges encountered during work (Olawegbemi, 2007).

Through, Noise does not kill, it can certainly make our lives “miserable” whether it is from a loud noise, such as music, or take off a Jet-plane that can shake a whole house. The blaring of a motor saw, lustrum engine or worse still saw mill could only “Expose million of people on a regular basis, to hazardous noise level that could result in hearing loss” (U.S National Institute of Health [ISNIA], 1990). It could also lead to loss of sleep, causes discomfort, annoyance and suffer from unwanted sound that one cannot escape from.

Saw mill noise is considered hazardous to the health of people everywhere; because noise often does not believe that it does not produce visible effect, some people tend to believes that it does not pose a serious risk to human health, but evidence from a member of recent studies especially on children, provides ample proof that noise harms   human health and decreases qualities of life (Christopher, 1997).

Conceptual framework

Almost everyone has had one experience of being temporarily deafened” by a loud noise. This “deafness” is not permanent although it is often accompanied by a ringing in the ears and one can hear another person, if he raises his voice like noise normal hearing comes back in a few hours at most. This sort or partial hearing loss is called temporarily threshold shift (TTS) (Bugharello, 2002). A TTS may be experienced after firing a gun or after a long drive in a car with the window open or after exposure to loud noise emanating from sawmill industry. It may be considered that constant exposure to this type of loud noise at rate or eight (8) hours a day, five days a week can be a threat to develop a permanent hearing loss.

The hearing loss is caused by destruction of delicate hair cell and their auditory nerve connection in the organ of court, which is contained in the cochlea (Bugharello, 2002). Every exposure to loud noise especially sawmills destroys some cells. But a prolong exposure a large amount of cells and ultimately collapse the organ of course which causes deafness.

Noise pollution is the energy transmitted through air as waves of varying pressure. This causes irritation, annoyance disruption of sleep, on and it is harmful to our well-being (Olojoba 2009). Industrial ranging from 81 – 92 – 102 decibels (dB) numbs the efficiency of workers besides being injurious to their health.

According to Olorunda and David (2007) a sound level is a measured with sound level is measure with sound level meter consisting microphone on amplifier a frequency weighing circuit (fitter) and on output scale. The result of the noise measure with the standard sound level meter is also expressed in terms of decibels (dB) but with a designated scale.

Noise pollution

Noise can be defined as an unwanted sound. It can also be described as wrong sound in the wrong places at the wrong time (Olojoba, 2009). She went further to define “noise pollution as the energy transmitted through the air as waves of varying pressure”. Noise is defined as unwanted sound, is preserved as an environmental stress or nuisance.

According to Olorunda and David (2007), noise pollution could be defined as or extraneous sound made by such products of civilization as trucks, airplanes, and industrial machineries air conditioners and similar sound producers.

Noise is another nuisance of urban pollution and is caused by the and hammering from a thousand workshops, the rumble and squeak of cart-wheels, the lowering of cattle being driven to market, the dole cries of street vendors proclaiming their wares, vibrations and explosions from industries (Unuraye, 2008).

Types of noise

Ichide (1999) reported that there are three types of noise that the council deals with. They are domestic noise, commercial noise and noise in streets.

• Domestic noise: This is a noise generated from household due to music, barking dogs, burglar alarms and late-night parties.
• Commercial noise: Another nuisance of urban pollution is “commercial noise” and it is caused by the factory noise, industrial noise, fan noise, chiller noise, delivery noise, construction site noise and music from pubs and clubs.
• Street noise: These are various types of noise emanated from street whose origin is based on ear alarms, ice cream chimes, machinery operating in the road and the use of loudspeakers, but excludes traffic.

The council has power to deal with all of the above noise complaints. These are laid down in various Acts of Parliament. Under section 80 and 81 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 (as amended by the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993) and the control of pollution Act 1973, in addition to several codes practices

Sources of noise pollution

According to Henderson and Bielefeld (2006) noise pollution like pollutants is also a bye-product of industrialization, urbanization and modern civilization. Broadly speaking, the noise pollutant has two sources i.e. Industrial and non-industrial.

• Industrial sources include the noise from various industries and big machines working at a very high speed and high noise intensity.
• Non-industrial sources include the noise created by transport vehicular traffic and the neighbourhood noise generated by various noise pollution can also be divided in the categories, namely, natural and manmade. Most leading noise sources will fall into the following: road traffic, our traffic, railroads, construction, industry noise in building and consumer pro.

Noise measurement and sound pressure level

A decibel is the standard for the measurement of noise. The zero decibel scale is at the threshold of hearing, the lowest sound pressure that can be heard on the scale acceleration. To Smith, 20 dB is whisper, 40dB the noise in a quiet office, 60dB is normal conversation, 80dB is the level at which sound becomes physically painful (Park, 2005). More series of sound levels in same would be properly presented. Akeredolu (2001) state that sound is a physical phenomenon consisting of alternating compression and expansion of air that in all directions from a source. These alternating compressions and expansion can be described as small changes in pressure around atmosphere. The frequency of the alternating sound determines the pitch of the sound.

A high pitched tone e.g. 4,000 Hz has a squeak sound while a low tone e.g. 200Hz, humming sound. Environmental noise source such as sawmills generates broad frequency range sound pressure or leveI relative to the atmosphere pressure range from < 120 micro- Pascal < 200 Pascal, a range of 1 – 10 million. Therefore acoustics, the logarithm of sound pressure (level) relative to a reference sound pressure is used as basis from a sound (and noise) pressure measure. The physical quantity sound pressure level is expressed in decibel (dB).

According to William (2005), the human hearing organ is not equally sensitive to sound of different frequencies. Therefore, a spectral factor is used to rate sound pressure level at different frequencies in a way comparable to that of the human hearing organ; this is called A- weighting. The biophysical quality A-weightier sound level (C) is expressed as dB (A) and is referred to a sound level. Examples of typical sound levels measure in the surrounding as in common situations are as follows:

• Threshold of hearing (0dB)
• Chain saw (Sawmill) (110dB)
• Car passing 15ft (70 dB)
• Snow mobile (100 dB)
• Airfoil (plane take off) (120dB)
• Hospital ward (20 — 70 — 80)
• Library 35 (dB)
• Commercial office (60 —65 dB)
• Classroom (30 —40 dB)
• Piano (80 — 85 dB)
• Normal traffic noise (70 — 80dB)
• Speech between two to three people (60 —65 dB)
• Music on radio (85 dB)
• Industrial workshop (85 dB)
• Threshold of pain (80 — 120— 130 dB), etc.

Note, the above are typical levels of noise commonly generated in surrounding. According to Olorunda and David (2007), sound is measured in decibels (dB). The basic instrument used for the measuring noise is the “sound level meter”. This instrument is designed to respond in approximately the same way as the human ear and give objective assessment of sound pressure level. Sound level is the basic metric from which other bio-physical metric to specify long term exposure to noise are divided. Usually a noise metric is assessed on annual basis.

Factors which influence a person’s reaction to noise pollution

1. Frequency: In the rule of propagation, the higher the frequency, greater the annoyance.
2. Loudness: The louder the noise the greater the nuisance, it has found that there is general dislike of noise more related to loudness than to any other easily measured characteristic.
3. Unexpectedness: The effect of this is more apparent on some than others, but all the evidence points to the effect being of short.
4. Uncertainty of direction and unfamiliarity: It is a natural reaction to experience a sense of unrest. Until the direction and sources of is established.
5. Irregularity and duration: Continuous impulsive or rhythmic noise more irritating than a smooth noise with intermittent noise, much depend on the frequency of the repletion e.g. noise heard four times a day is not so annoying as one heard forty times a day.
6. Necessity: If the noise generating activity is trivial or though, by complaint to be unnecessary, has annoyance is increased.
7. General state of health: Poor health or condition or emotional instability lowers the tolerance level of acceptability.
8. Level of background noise: The deference between a noise and background noise is very important. The greater the difference, the greater is the annoyance likely to be (Dverden & Butterworths, 1998).

According to Christopher (1999), sounds of higher frequencies are more annoying and potentiality more damaging than sound for lower frequencies. He said that the principal factors increases the level of damage caused by such noise is the duration of exposure. The source of noise and the exposure setting are defined i.e. exposure during the execution of occupational task of sawmilling (Citing General Plan, Appendix E Background information on Environmental Acoustics November, 1996).

The impact of noise exposure (pollution) on human health

According to use Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] (1980), noise has always been with human civilization but it was so obvious, so intense, so varied pervasive as it is seen in the last of this century. Noise pollution make man irritable, the impacts (effect) of noise pollution is multifaceted and inter related.

The World Health Organization [WHO] (2003) Working Group on Noise Environmental Borden on Diseases began work on health effect or heart in Europe. In addition to the heart disease link, it found that 2% of Europeans suffer severely disturbed sleep because of noise pollution and 15% can suffer several annoyances, chronic exposure to loud traffic noise causes, which people constantly hear noise in their ears.

Regulations were amended in 17^th May, 2001 to incorporate a new of limit for noise levels at night form construction project and industrial area like swamp industries located near residential building. These new limits have come into play since 1st October 2001. The permissible noise levels for residential buildings (premises are listed under Miscellaneous Offence Act (Public Order and Nuisance) and Part Public Entertainment Act (Chapter 257).

Cases involving noise from residential premises, the police have to deal with noise as a breach of peace. However, FSPA (now NESREA) can also take action under the Environmental Public Health Act if the noise is deemed to constitute a Public Health nuisance. These impacts associated with noise pollution may need to be reconsidered in regard to human health, after continuous exposure for months and even years (WHO Report, 2006).

1. The immediate symptoms of noise include discomfort, pains and ringing in the ear.
2. High noise effects the state of mind and put the recipient in fragile state of easy annoyance and the lower threshold for noise producing sleep disturbance is 45 (dB) (A).
3. The most immediate effect of noise pollution is a deterioration of the ability to hear things clearly i.e. Noise induced hearing impairment. Even on short term basis, noise pollution can cause temporarily deafness. The human ear is an eardrum (tympanic membrane) in motion. This actuates the three bones in the middle ear, the hammer; anvil and stirrup which physically amplified the motion received from the ear drum and transmit it to the inner ear. But if the noise pollution continues as it helplessly for a long period of time, there is a danger that some people may go stone deaf or permanent loss of hearing (Noise Abatement in Developing Country) (Deurden & Butter Worths, 1998).
4. According to ENT Specialist, (2002) high noise level exceeding 10 dB, can contribute to cardio vascular effects and exposure to moderately high level during a single eight hours period causes a statistical rise in blood pressure of five to ten point and increase in stress, aggression and vasoconstriction leading to increased in blood pressure. For example, people who are living too close to sawmill industries will probably experience these effects of noise pollution which causes certain diseases in human. It attacks on the Peron’s peace of mind. Noise is recognized as major contributing factor in accelerating the already existing tension of modern living. These tension results to certain diseases like blood and mental illness etc.
5. It decreases the efficiency of a man: Regarding the impact on human efficiency there are number of experiment which point out the fact that human efficiency increases with reduction in noise. A study by Sinna and Sinna in India suggested that reducing industrial could improve the quality of their work. Thus human efficiency is related with noise.
6. Lack of concentration: For better of work there should be concentration, noise causes lack of concentration, in big cities mostly all the offices are in main road the traffic noise or the loud speakers of different types of horns divert the attention of workers in their offices.
7. Fatigue: Because of noise pollution, people cannot concentrate on their work. Thus they have to give more time for completing their work and thereby making them tired.

Other effect of noise pollution is as a result of chronic exposure to may cause hypertension, severe depression, insomnia, impair sexual performance and also learning ability in children – unborn children are at risk too if they are exposed to high level noise during pregnancy as it affects the immature cochlea – the  spiral cavity of the ear.

In 2005, according to a study by Spanish researcher found that in urban area household are willing to pay approximately four Euros for year for noise reduction.

The Attitude of people toward noise pollution

As stated earlier on the study, noise often does not visible effect because there is usually not a distinct cause and effects relationship between a single noise event and a clear adverse health effect, some people believe that noise does not pose risk on human health.

Even people do not attach danger or health risk to the that emanate from Sawmills situated near their houses; to them, may even be liked to a case monger, more so, some of the owners operators of such sawmills are members of the same society. People have social and economic belief in type of noise activity consider being justifiable. Each section of the people consider its own activity justify for good reason while some controversies exist account the right of various group of persons to make noise that in good cause. As a result people now take or accept the noise that emanate from these with a “pleasurable thing”. The complaint is there though but to the extent of making it justice able (Nwanchukwu, 2000). However, most people are now aware that noise can damage but it is unlikely that many people would become motivated to do something about the problem.

Noise pollution control

Unuraye (2008), calls engineering control, what identities therefore required here, is the federal government, through the ministry of environment, provide the funding and the advice and also update their in on noise pollution. They should stimulate fund and conduct on noise and health and help development quieter produces more effective noise control measures furthermore, government conduct base line studies (BLS), Environmental Planning and Aesthetics (EPA), Environmental Evaluation Reports (EER). These studies help put in place effective system of pollution control: There is also the need to complement engineering control with administrative control workers who have stayed in a high noise level for the minimum duration per day should be made to work in an environment with the noise level below 85dB for the rest of the day’s work. Employer should to run short time operation for few days in the week rather than operating the equipment throughout the week.

Achalu (2000) state that workers and resident exposed to high noise above permissible limits should have regular task .nation as part of health control. Noise monitoring should be performed by the occupational health department. The use of protective equipment e.g. eye goggle or ear muff or plug should be encouraged.

Unuraye (2008) also state that experts advocate that the role of regulatory agencies such as Federal Environment Protection (Now NSREA) Inspectorate division of the environmental unit of the local government should be supported and encourage to effectively regulate, monitor and mitigate the activities pertaining to noise pollution given the varying impacts of noise pollution on the public health and the well being of an individual, one would expected the government to regulate the noise pollution and stringently as it does other form of pollution. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Noise regulation in Nigeria has effectively fallen to other agencies within the federal government to coordinate the noise abatement effort of other agencies and provides information to the public concerning noise emission of products. But this also not the case, the public hardly get information concerning the health consequences of noise, instead the agencies turn themselves into money making agencies for certain individual within these agencies.

To protect the environment from the adverse effect of noise pollution, effective regulation have to be enacted and implemented to the later, to regulate and mitigate the adverse effects of noise pollution.

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