moradabad: Moradabad 2nd in world in noise pollution: UN report | India News – Times of India
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MORADABAD: Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad is the second-most noise polluted city globally, according to the recent ‘Annual Frontier Report, 2022’ published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The area recorded noise pollution of an ear-splitting 114 decibels at its highest (dB) in 2021, the report said.
The report ranks 61 cities around the world, of which Dhaka tops the list with a noise pollution of 119 dB. Islamabad is third, with maximum noise pollution of 105 dB. Thirteen cities from South Asia feature in the list. Five of them are from India. The other four are Kolkata at 89 dB, Asansol (89 dB), Jaipur (84 dB), and Delhi at 83 dB.
Sounds with a frequency of over 70 dB are considered harmful to health. The World Health Organisation had recommended a 55-dB standard for residential areas in its 1999 guidelines. For traffic and business sectors, this limit is 70 dB. The quietest cities in the world are Irbrid at 60 dB, Lyon at 69 dB, Madrid at 69 dB, Stockholm at 70 dB, and Belgrade at 70 dB.
“As cities grow, noise pollution is identified as a top environmental risk. High levels of noise impair human health and well-being – by disrupting sleep or drowning out the beneficial and positive acoustic communications of many animal species that live in these areas,” said Inger Andersen, executive director, UNEP.
Meanwhile, an official police report suggested that emergency services of the UP police received over 14,000 complaints of noise pollution in 2021, with an average of 40 calls per day. A majority of the complaints were related to disc jockeys playing loud music at weddings beyond the 10 pm deadline.
Dr Gitesh Manik, a cardiologist at Moradabad’s Vivekanand Hospital, said, “Air and noise pollution should now be considered as one of the major factors causing cardiac irregularities. As cardiologists, we are used to thinking about many traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, or diabetes. This study and others suggest that we should start considering additional risks.”
Dr Virendra Singh, director of the biology and agricultural science department of IFTM University in Moradabad stated, “An inspection should be conducted by the authorities to check whether ambient air quality standards with respect to noise are maintained and whether loudspeakers are being used without obtaining written permission from authorities. In case any violations are found during such inspection, necessary remedial measures and strict action must be taken”.
The report ranks 61 cities around the world, of which Dhaka tops the list with a noise pollution of 119 dB. Islamabad is third, with maximum noise pollution of 105 dB. Thirteen cities from South Asia feature in the list. Five of them are from India. The other four are Kolkata at 89 dB, Asansol (89 dB), Jaipur (84 dB), and Delhi at 83 dB.
Sounds with a frequency of over 70 dB are considered harmful to health. The World Health Organisation had recommended a 55-dB standard for residential areas in its 1999 guidelines. For traffic and business sectors, this limit is 70 dB. The quietest cities in the world are Irbrid at 60 dB, Lyon at 69 dB, Madrid at 69 dB, Stockholm at 70 dB, and Belgrade at 70 dB.
“As cities grow, noise pollution is identified as a top environmental risk. High levels of noise impair human health and well-being – by disrupting sleep or drowning out the beneficial and positive acoustic communications of many animal species that live in these areas,” said Inger Andersen, executive director, UNEP.
Meanwhile, an official police report suggested that emergency services of the UP police received over 14,000 complaints of noise pollution in 2021, with an average of 40 calls per day. A majority of the complaints were related to disc jockeys playing loud music at weddings beyond the 10 pm deadline.
Dr Gitesh Manik, a cardiologist at Moradabad’s Vivekanand Hospital, said, “Air and noise pollution should now be considered as one of the major factors causing cardiac irregularities. As cardiologists, we are used to thinking about many traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, or diabetes. This study and others suggest that we should start considering additional risks.”
Dr Virendra Singh, director of the biology and agricultural science department of IFTM University in Moradabad stated, “An inspection should be conducted by the authorities to check whether ambient air quality standards with respect to noise are maintained and whether loudspeakers are being used without obtaining written permission from authorities. In case any violations are found during such inspection, necessary remedial measures and strict action must be taken”.
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