Thursday 26 May 2016

Rising noise pollution emerging as a major public health problem

Rising noise pollution emerging as a major public health problem IMA & HCFI to host a webcast on ways in which the health implications of noise pollution can be reduced between 3-4 pm tomorrow Anyone can log on to www.ima-india.org/imalive or www.heartcarefoundation.org to watch the webcast. To get one’s questions answered live, they can call on 9811090206 New Delhi, May 25, 2016: Air pollution and its harmful effects on health have been in the news recently. But another environmental issue that also needs equal, if not more, attention is noise pollution, which has adverse health and social effects, both directly and indirectly. The rising noise levels have become a major public health problem. In our endevour to raise awareness about the health implications of noise pollution amongst the masses, as well as to educate the doctors on necessary ways in which they can counsel their patients, HCFI and IMA will jointly host a webcast between 3-4 pm. The first 30 minutes of the webcast will be aimed at educating doctors and the second half patients. Anyone can watch the webcast by logging on to our websites www.ima-india.org/imalive or www.heartcarefoundation.org. The faculty for the webcast will be Dr AK Agarwal, Former President Delhi Medical Council” said Dr KK Aggarwal, Hony Secretary General, IMA and President Heart Care Foundation of India. Traffic is the major source of noise pollution. Poor urban planning, social events (loudspeakers), construction activities, gadgets like TV, mobiles, earphones, household appliances are other contributors to noise pollution. Long-term exposure to noise may cause hearing problems. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common and obvious outcome of noise pollution. It is also an important occupational health concern due to high workplace noise levels. However, noise pollution has also been associated with other health problems such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, increases heart rate, heart disease. It may manifest as disturbed sleep/ insomnia, headache, fatigue, loss of concentration and decreased work efficiency. Noise pollution also causes irritability, which may at times trigger road rage. Some facts on noise levels Continuous exposure to sounds above 85 db can cause progressive hearing loss. Anyone exposed to sounds above 85 db of noise requires hearing protection. The special limit for people who are exposed to noise above 90 db is 8 hours; for 95 db is 4 hours and 2 hours for 100 db. A short blast of loud sound also can cause severe to profound sensory neural hearing loss and pain. This usually involves exposure to noise above 120-155 db. Hearing protection in the form of muffins or ear plugs is highly recommended anytime a person is exposed to loud noise.

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