[Answered] Noise pollution is a major environmental problem, cited as a top environmental risk to health across all age and social groups and an addition to the public health burden. In the light of the statement, highlight the effects of Noise pollution on the health and environment. Also, suggest steps required to tackle this menace.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report –“Noise, Blazes and Mismatches: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern” highlighted the environmental challenges posed by noise. Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh was ranked as the second-most-noisiest city and the first was Dhaka, Bangladesh at a maximum value of 119 dB.

Effects of noise pollution:

• It creates mild and temporary distress to severe and chronic physical impairment.
• The elderly, pregnant women and shift workers are among those at risk of noise-induced sleep disturbance. Noise-induced awakenings can trigger a range of physiological and psychological stress responses because sleep is necessary for hormonal regulation and cardiovascular functioning.
• Traffic noise exposure is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as elevated blood pressure, hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
• Acoustic communication is used in a variety of contexts, including territory defence, locating or attracting a mate etc. Noise pollution alters these behaviours and forces for vocal modification.
• The vocal modification helps animals to be heard in noisy environments but sometimes it is considered less attractive by potential mates, therefore affecting reproduction. And this may eliminate them from their habitats with possible significant ecological implications.

Steps required:

• Green solutions: Vegetation in urban environments can absorb acoustic energy and diffuse noise. Tree belts, green walls and green roofs have positive visual effects and amplify natural sounds by attracting urban wildlife. Vegetated roofs attenuate sound by absorbing propagation over rooftops from street to quiet sides.
• Mitigation at source: Emission reduction at source is the most effective, including restriction of traffic flow or speed, quieter vehicle engines and low-noise road surfaces.
• Noise barriers: Barriers placed near source or receiver can significantly reduce noise. Vegetated noise barriers increase the absorption and reduce the propagation of sound.
• Ecosystem services: Public parks, gardens and other small green areas provide pleasant sounds from nature which contributes to relaxation, stress recovery and psychological restoration.
• Encouraging the use of bicycles, electric vehicles and adopting building energy standards to reduce noise emission from air conditioning systems.

The policy attention should not simply focus on areas with high noise levels, but also on where positive soundscapes exist or can be created. Providing or protecting these spaces is a passive, yet valuable way of regulating noise in urban areas. Noise pollution should be considered within a broader range of environmental challenges through integrated policies.