Urban Noise Pollution Assessment and its Non-Auditory Health Effects on the Residents of Chiniot and Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan

Noise pollution is an emerging global problem therefore, it is imperative to determine noise level especially in the urban environment and its implications on human health. The objectives of this study were i) to assess the urban noise pollution and traffic density of Chiniot and Jhang and ii) to determine non-auditory health effects of noise pollution on the residents of both cities. Noise pollution was examined from 181 locations (103 from Jhang and 78 from Chiniot) and categorized into hospitals, educational, religious and recreational, residential, industrial areas, and traffic intersections. Noise levels measurements were taken using integrated sound level meter. The urban noise data showed 82% of the sites in Jhang and 95% in Chiniot exceeded the noise limits set by NEQS-Pak and WHO. Moreover, higher intensity of noise pollution (≥ 100 dB) was recorded in Chiniot (17 sites) than in Jhang (1 site). Regression analysis showed relatively strong relationship of traffic density with noise at Chiniot (R2 = 0.48) compared to Jhang (R2 = 0.31). However, spatial variability of noise with traffic density was observed at both cities. Survey study revealed that all the respondents in Jhang and Chiniot suffered from many noise related health problems such as annoyance (53 and 51%), depression (45 and 47%), dizziness (61 and 65%), headache (67 and 64%), hypertension (71 and 56%), hearing loss (53 and 56%), physiological stress (65 and 65%), sleeplessness (81 and 84%), and tinnitus (70 and 62%) due to noise, respectively. It is concluded that noise pollution is higher in Chiniot due to high traffic density resulted from higher population density and cottage industry. It is recommended that vehicles maintenance, family and urban planning could be effective measures to reduce urban noise pollution.