Book title: Noise Control handbook
Editor: Cyril Harris, McGraw Hill Publishers
Chapters worth reading are on: Community noise: Noise survey; Community response to noise; Physiological effects; Human Performance & Noise.
Yet another good reference is my student's Ph.D. thesis the effect of noise on home environment (Namita Bhatnagar: submitted to Nagpur University). Two papers out of this thesis have bagged best paper awards too.
Comments
High Noise Exposed & Low-Noise exposed Subject Profiles
Over my two year data collection period, apart from generating study-parameter data, I tried to build up a typical profile of low & high –noise exposed study subjects. By way of a schedule, I collected general data about their life-style aspects, prevalence and distribution of common health complaints etc.
Some very interesting information that I would love to share with my friends of this forum. These findings, also brought to my mind, some policy implications
Complaints
Control
Experimental
Hypertension
3 %
2%
Palpitation
4%
3%
Diabetes
1%
4%
Vertigo
3%
4%
Hyperacidity
14%
28%
Headache
9%
4%
Backache
11%
5%
2. Awareness levels of noise-induced health hazards: control group 76% experimental group 33%. The policy implications of this finding could be a conscious effort by governing and administrative bodies to use more of graphically presented information to convey noise pollution health effects
3. The present study found that physical exercise and de-stressing relaxation activities like games were indulged in by 68% and 51% of the control group as compared to a substantially low 4%and 2% in the experimental group.
In the present stage of development in India, Noise Induced Hearing Loss needs to be addressed at multiple levels. Reduction in noise levels at source or use of hearing protection devices (HPD’s) in the industry might not always be feasible. To facilitate adequate coping with noise stress, workers could be encouraged to adopt healthier life styles. They could be educated about the benefits of de-stressing behaviors like community games, exercise etc. Multiple studies demonstrating such life styles and their positive health impacts need to be conducted. The conclusions drawn from these studies should not be restricted to the academic community, but need to be communicated to the high-noise exposed population at large, repeatedly and in a language they are able to relate to
Dr Joshi, I will be glad if you forward the abstract of your paper at girishyadav4u@rediffmail.com.
Thanks in advance.
Dear Nandini: Namita's ID is nbhat_20@hotmail.com. I strongly suggest that you send a feeler to her.
I am interested in your work; please feel free to endorse a copy of your work summary.
I have been a professor in nagpur university and retired a few years ago, but my research group continues to work in the field of acoustics.
Good wishes,
S. Rajagopalan
Dear Dr.Nandini Joshi,
I request you to send the abstract / full paper on noise plollution.My e mail ID is ghosh51@hotmail.com.
With best regards,
Ashok Ghosh
Hi Dr.Rajagopalan!
Your post was interesting. Since you spoke of a doctorate in Noise Pollution from an Environmental Science student, I thought of introducing myself, an audiologist & speech pathologist, to you.
Noise effect studies done in laboratories do not yield data, which can be practically applied to minimizing health effects of ambient occupational noise i.e. in constructing hearing conservation interventions. Hence I chose to do it in the field.
My doctoral study with the title "The Auditory & Non-Auditory Effects of Noise Pollution: An Occupational Health Study" was a prospective (one year duration), panel-type of a study done in the textile belt of Vikhroli, Mumbai. I monitored two sex & age matched groups (high-noise-exposed-power loom workers & low-noise-exposed office workers, sample size of 120 in each group) on blood pressures (systolic & diastolic), pulse rates, trait & state anxiety levels and hearing acuity.
In case you are interested, I could mail you my study abstract.
Thanks Sir!! for sharing the information.
Regards
Pushkar