It is an undeniable fact that carbon mono oxide and lead oxide emitted by motorised traffic is one of the causes of serious diseases, like cancer, throat infection, lungs problem, sore eyes, deafness and baldness. But according to a recent study and survey carried out in Karachi by the Institute of Environmental Studies of Karachi University and by the PCSIR in other big cities of the country, pollution of noise is causing havoc.
They have categorically stated that pollution of noise has grown in big cities to intolerable volume. According to International Occupational Safety and Health Standards, hearing loss is a most likely risk when a person is exposed to 115 decibels, noise for more than 15 minutes, whereas 85 to 90 decibels is stated to be maximum allowable occupational exposure.
The nerve shattering noise emitted by auto-rickshaws, most of them with defective silencers, significantly contribute towards stress disorder, anxiety, nerve exhaustion and other miseries of pollution stricken citizens. Noise of loudspeakers, railway trains, airplanes, tractors, rattling of machines, ice-cream sellers and all the motorise traffic with their pressure horns are adversely telling upon the health of urban as well as rural pollution.
According to a well known cardiologist, noise pollution is the main cause of mood disorder, fatigue, depression and nervous tension, which ultimately affect the functioning of heart. Noise pollution hinders the concentration and makes the intellectual and mental activities and deciding power slow. It can cause disorder in digestion system.
Quantity of milk in milching animals is decreased due to noise which is restored on the restoration of silence and peace. Noise of jet airplanes can kill the offspring of bees in their hives. Some species of birds have almost disappeared from certain areas because of noise.
Environment Protection Council, National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) for noise levels, and Ministry of Environment and Urban Affairs is required to do something now to arrest the upward trend of noise pollution before everybody becomes crazy.
M NAZIR GHOHL
Qila Didar Singh
