Assessment of Noise Pollution and Its Effect on Residents Health in Ahvaz, Iran in 2011

Background & Aims of the Study: Among the environmental pollutions, noise pollution,due to the potential physiological and psychological effects on humans, is of a particularimportance. Exposure to noise can result in hearing loss in citizens. Health risks from noiseassociated with road traffic. Noise health effects are the health consequences of elevatedsound levels. This study was conducted to evaluate the noise pollution and health effectsdue to near roadway in Ahvaz, Iran.Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-cross sectional study, Equivalent sound pressurelevel was measured by sound level meters in 75 points in 4 roadways, which have highdensity of traffic in Ahvaz city during daytime. In them, at measuring stations, on 4 days ofweek, at three times totally 1038 measurements were recorded that including 6 parametersof traffic noise and each measurement was recorded for 30 minutes. SPSS software’s wereapplied for statistical analysis.Results: According to the research findings, the equivalent sound pressure levels in allstations were equal to 72.36±2.87 dB. There was a Statistically Significant differencebetween the mean Values of equivalent Sound Pressure level and noise health effects.Based on result of this study the highest noise health effects were the nervousness and sleepquality. After transferring data to computer, SPSS and Excel software s were applied forstatistical analysisConclusions: Based on the results of this study, it should seriously be taken intoconsideration in order to control noise and prevent the effects.

Keywords:

Noise pollution , Roadway , Traffic , Health effects , Ahvaz , Iran