Noise pollution due to railway transport has become a notable problem. It causes severe health impacts on people exposed to high levels of noise living near the train pass-by areas. This study was conducted at three major railway stations in Delhi. The real-time noise level data of the 220 pass-by trains were measured using a sound level meter (Cesva SC-310). This study primarily focused on the psychological and physiological impacts of noise pollution on human health, which include hearing impairment, high blood pressure, disturbance in sleep, and speech interference. The average day-night noise level (Ldn) was investigated at high-frequency train railway stations, i.e., New Delhi, Old Delhi, and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Results showed that none of the measurement locations complied with the prescribed standards, indicating a prominent issue. Noise level values varied from 81.7 to 101 dBA in New Delhi, 81.4 to 104.1 dBA in Old Delhi, and 72.6 to 103.6 dBA in the Hazrat Nizamuddin area, which were exceeded by 17.6–49.1 dBA with the standard limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi. Further, the noise levels were compared with the health hazard standard, i.e., 70 dBA, given by the Health Council of the Netherlands in 1994. It showed that the noise at all sites exceeded the threshold limit by approximately 60% for annoyance and 35% for hypertension and ischemic heart disease. These findings highlighted the serious concern linked to human health impacts due to the railway's pass-by noise pollution.

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An Investigation of the Health Risks Due to Railway Noise in Urban Delhi

  • Ravi Pratap Singh Jadon,
  • Rajeev Kumar Mishra,
  • Nasim Akhtar

摘要

Noise pollution due to railway transport has become a notable problem. It causes severe health impacts on people exposed to high levels of noise living near the train pass-by areas. This study was conducted at three major railway stations in Delhi. The real-time noise level data of the 220 pass-by trains were measured using a sound level meter (Cesva SC-310). This study primarily focused on the psychological and physiological impacts of noise pollution on human health, which include hearing impairment, high blood pressure, disturbance in sleep, and speech interference. The average day-night noise level (Ldn) was investigated at high-frequency train railway stations, i.e., New Delhi, Old Delhi, and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Results showed that none of the measurement locations complied with the prescribed standards, indicating a prominent issue. Noise level values varied from 81.7 to 101 dBA in New Delhi, 81.4 to 104.1 dBA in Old Delhi, and 72.6 to 103.6 dBA in the Hazrat Nizamuddin area, which were exceeded by 17.6–49.1 dBA with the standard limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi. Further, the noise levels were compared with the health hazard standard, i.e., 70 dBA, given by the Health Council of the Netherlands in 1994. It showed that the noise at all sites exceeded the threshold limit by approximately 60% for annoyance and 35% for hypertension and ischemic heart disease. These findings highlighted the serious concern linked to human health impacts due to the railway's pass-by noise pollution.