Environmental Engineering: Noise Pollution - Term Paper Example

Noise pollution has negatively affected the lives of people. There has been a direct link between noise pollution with health. Problems connected with noise pollution include diseases related to stress like high blood pressure, loss of hearing, interference with speech, disruption when sleeping, and loss of productivity.

The most commonly discussed disease is Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Research has shown that constant exposure to high levels of noise can cause numerous unfavorable health effects. (United States Comparative Ranking, 1975. 8) Noise pollution can cause hearing loss, the usual auditory function of one’s ears is affected by too much noise. One is considered to have the ability to hear if he is capable of detecting sound within the frequency of 16-20,000 Hz. The diagram below shows how the human ear functions.

The threshold of audibility or the point at which sounds are barely detectable is shown below. In clinical hearing evaluation, normal hearing falls within a range of 0 to 25 dB of the threshold of audibility. The capability to hear means being able of detecting sounds within the frequency range of 16-20,000 Hz. The threshold of audibility or the point at which sounds are barely detectable is shown in Figure 2-2. In clinical hearing assessment, normal hearing falls within a range of 0 to 25 dB of the threshold of audibility.

To understand more about the effects of sound on our ears, we are going to see the parts of the ear in the diagram below. The outer ear has the auricle or pinna [1] and the auditory canal [2]. 

The pinna of the human ear is a residual composition though it may aid in the localization of sound entering the ear. The sound wave going inside the ear is enhanced by reverberating distinctiveness of the auditory canal (12). Sound waves go up the auditory canal [2] and set up vibrations in the eardrum or tympanic membrane. [3].

At the back, the tympanic membrane is a void called the middle ear. It functions as an impedance matcher. Especially, sound pressure from waves moving through the air is amplified about 21 times so that it may competently pass through into the high-impedance fluid medium in the inner ear. This is consummate by the leverage action of the three middle ear bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes [4]. The footplate of the stapes, in turn, moves in and out of the oval window [5].

The movement of the oval window brings up motions in the fluid [6] that fill the inner ear or cochlea. The motion of this fluid causes the hairs that are immersed in the fluid to move [7]. The movement of these hairs stimulates the cells attached to them to convey impulses along the fibers of the auditory nerve [8] to the brain. The brain translates these impulses into the sensation of sound and stapes [4]. The footplate of the stapes, in turn, moves in and out of the oval window [5].

A sensory-neural loss results from damage to the cochlea or neural structures of the ear. Birth defects, noise, ototoxic drugs, fever, or trauma may cause this type of loss. Sensory-neural losses are not medically correctable. In addition, sensorineural hearing loss can be classified in several ways: noise-induced, presbycusis, sociocusis, or due to birth defects, congenital problems, disease, injury, or drugs (NOISE EFFECTS HANDBOOK ).

 Rupture of the ear drum and disturbance of the middle ear bones can result from a very high amplitude impulse or blast.

We can lessen noise pollution by modifying the source of noise to reduce the noise produced, changing the transmission path to decrease the level of noise received and changing the receiver’s exposure to noise by using personal protective equipment (Canetto, & Jeremie 134)

Noise pollution is an environmental hazard that mostly affects humans. The extent of noise depends on the position of the listener and the source of the noise. Noise pollution affects the human ear thus affecting the ability to respond. It also causes cardiovascular disease, headaches, and migraine