Measurement of noise level in the fair area

Transcription

1 Peer-reviewed and Open access journal ISSN: The primary version of the journal is the on-line version ATI - Applied Technologies & Innovations Volume 13 Issue pp DOI: Measurement of noise level in the fair area Ebuzer Aygul, Ishak Ertugrul, Sezgin Ersoy Technology Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turke corresponding ebuzer(dot)aygul[at]marmara(dot)edu(dot)tr postal address: Goztepe Campus 34722, Kadikoy - Istanbul, Turkey Abstract: The noise causes many problems and damage on human health. There is enough scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hearing impairment, hypertension and ischemic heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance. Especially in case of long-term exposure to noise, the noise can cause permanent illnesses. People are mostly exposed to noise in work areas and life environments. The effects of noise on human health are increasing rapidly. In this study, real-time noise values were measured in the fair area. The measured noise values exceeded the international noise values. The results of this measurement show that as long as experts do not take precautions, people working in fair are at risk of constant noise. Keywords: Noise, noise measurement, human health, adverse effects. Citation: Aygul, E., Ertugrul, I., Ersoy, S. (2017). Measurement of noise level in the fair area. Applied Technologies and Innovations, 13(1), pp.21-25, Introduction Rapidly evolving technology with the advancement of civilization has led to increase of the noise in the human life environment. The noise has become an environmental pollution that needs to be taken under control (Seidman & Standring, 2010). Noise sources can be classified as in-building noises and out-of-building noises. In-building noises are generated from equipment (e.g., electricity, heating, vacuum cleaner, cooling, etc.) and caused by the vehicles, machines, elevator, ventilation, as well as by people for various reasons willingly or unintentionally. Out-of-building noises include traffic noise (road, railway, and air transport), industry and equipment noises, and environmental noises (such as sports fields, open markets, children's parks) (Wells, Evans, & Cheek, 2016). Sound levels of different noises at one-meter distance, 0.5 second at damping time and open volume are given in Table 1. TABLE 1. SOUNDS LEVEL OF DIFFERENT NOISES Sound pressure Noise source level db(a) Whispering Vacuum cleaner Scream Freight train Clap of thunder Aircraft propeller Jet engine

2 Measurement of noise level in the fair area ATI This research aims to measure the exact value of the noise in the fair area. Furthermore, the measured noise values are compared with the international noise values and the adverse effects on the human health are mentioned. Literature review Noise can create physiological and psychological problems on human health and society (Erkan, 1998; Gulten, 1981). Researches show that noise adversely affects organic, neural and psychological structures of human. These adverse effects depend on several factors such as frequency, length of exposure to noise, the average noise value and levels (Gulten, 1981; Ersoy & Karatepe, 2011; Busch-Vishniac et al., 2005). Gulten (1981) distinguishes the following noise levels depending on the time of the day: - Daytime ( ) db - Evening ( ) db - Night ( ) db. Changes created by voices can lead to the temporary or permanent hearing loss in the inner ear. Effects of noise in the inner ear occur in the form of damaging hair cell. Acoustic trauma develops as a result of exposure to the blast-style noise of very high intensity. In acoustic trauma, volume forces mechanic nerves of structures in the inner ear and even Corti organ can be divided from cochlea by rending (Ersoy & Doğan, 2008). Membrane and middle ear ossicles of the people exposed suddenly to high intensity noise can be damaged also. In inner ear, the first and most obvious effect on the behaviour of physiological damage is hearing los. The longer the duration of exposure to noise, the effects on hearing damage in the inner ear reach to level that will affect communication (Gulten, 1981; Ersoy & Karatepe, 2011; Marsot-Dupuch et al., 1999). Long exposure to 83 db noise will lead to hearing loss in the ear, while the short-term noise does not cause serious damages. Therefore, scientists make serious efforts to reduce noise problems. It is known that cultural, social and business areas can have a high noise levels (Ersoy & Gorgulu, 2008; Ersoy & Doğan, 2008; Akar & Ersoy, 2008). Noises in fairs provide affect to a wide range of people (Kramer, 2015). Methodology To carry out noise measurement we used the two-sound level meter SL 4001 representing hand-held IEC 651 standard features, the ISO 9001, CE certified. It is suitable for measurement with standard ISO All measurements were conducted with this device. The study is based on applying the safety rules for noise measurement and controlling the measurement environment. The sound level meter should be fixed, the device should be 1.5 meters high from the ground. The sound level meter should be settled and kept away from dusty environments, rainy and windy environments. Sound level meter is to be mounted on a stand, the floor should be isolated from the vibration. The background noise in the environment must be controlled while before and after the noise measurements. Findings and discussion The International Standards Organization (ISO) has a "normal noise" level of 58 db, "moderate to noisy" db, "noisy" between db, and the "very noisy" from db. Hearing loss may occur if prolonged exposure to 85 db noise is present. According

3 to the measurement results, noise values are slightly above international norms in the fair area. These values cannot directly affect human health, while they can also cause serious illness if people are exposed to noise for a long period of time. Therefore, the adverse effect is important for people who work continuously in the fair. The fair area included 10 halls, each hall was measured separately. The measurement results exceeded the international norms for every hall in the fair area. The noise values obtained are given in Table 2. FIGURE 1. MAP OF MEASUREMENT The appearance of fair area where the measurement was made is given Figure 1. This fair area has not been chosen for a special reason, it was a randomly selected area. The maximum and minimum noise values and the average of these values are given in Table 2. According to the measurement results, the minimum measured noise level in the fair area is 64 db and the maximum measured value is 82 db. These values are measured in the fair area depending on the changing environmental conditions during the day. Accepted sound pressure levels by international norms for different areas are given in Table 3 and it shows that the international noise norms of the fairgrounds are between db. TABLE 2. LEVEL OF MEASUREMENT FOR HALLS (in db) Hall No. Minimum Maximum Average Hall Hall Hall Hall Hall Hall Hall Hall Hall Hall

4 Frequency (db) Measurement of noise level in the fair area ATI TABLE 3. PERMITTED SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS Permitted sound pressure levels according to type of place Concert and opera halls, recording studios, theaters, cinemas, etc. Bedrooms, TV and radio studios, conference rooms, classrooms, cameras, libraries, etc. Living and living rooms, operating offices, hotel bedrooms, patient bedrooms Lobby, private office areas, court buildings, fountains, hospitals, museums, etc. Open spaces, Wet spaces, Reception areas, General usage areas, Shops, Shopping centers, Restaurants, etc. Kitchen volumes, laundry, server rooms, cafeterias, market areas, fairgrounds, entertainment centers, schools, nightclubs, etc. db(a) The measured noise values in different rooms are given in Figure 2. Various factors can be listed for the difference of noise values such as people's interest, exhibited mechanism or industrial products, hall structural inconvenience, use of industrial motors, compressors and fan systems in open field, etc. FIGURE 2. NOISE LEVELS IN HALLS (average) Hall Number Conclusion Exposure to noise creates a health risk. There is enough scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hearing impairment, hypertension and ischemic heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance. In this study, the noise level was measured in fair area (Passchier-Vermeer & Passchier, 2000). The maximum and minimum values of the noise levels are measured in the 10 halls located in the fair area. The study compares the level of

5 noise in the fair area with the noise level by international norms. It observes the adverse effects of the noise level on the human health. The results show that fair area has a high noise level. According to experts, high levels of noise cause many physical and mental illnesses if they affect people for a long time. The noise level is between db. This noise level is above the international norms db. The measured noise levels are not harmful too much for visitors. But it should be hazardous for workers who stay in the fair for 6 hours and upper. The high level of noise indicates the necessity of taking responsive measures to eliminate the noises in fair area. References Akar, E., Ersoy, S. (2008). Üniversitede Sosyal Aktivitelerde Gürültü Ölçümü Örneği: Konser Alanı Gürültü Ölçüm [Example of Noise Measurement in University Social Activities: Concert Area Noise Measurement], Ulusal Akustik ve Gürültü Sempozyumu [National Acoustical and Geodetic Symposium]. Antalya, Turkey. Busch-Vishniac, I., West, J., Barnhill, C., Hunter, T., Orellana, D., & Chivukula, R. (2005). Noise levels in Johns Hopkins Hospital. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 118(6), Erkan, N. (1998), Ergonomi [Ergonomy]. Milli Prodüktivite Merkezi Yayınları [MPM publications]. No.373 (p. 17). 6. Baski, Ankara, Turkey. Ersoy, S., & Karatepe, Y. (2011). Measurements of noise at crossroads and on transportations. Its effects and possible measures to take, Journal of Vibroengineering, 13(1), Ersoy, S., & Gorgulu, S. (2008). Kafeteryalarda Gürültü Ortamının Belirlenmesi ve Değerlendirilmesi [Determination and Evaluation of Noise Environment in Cafeterias]. Ulusal Akustik ve Gurultu Sempozyumu [National Acoustical and Geodetic Symposium]. Antalya, Turkey. Ersoy, S., Doğan, B. (2008). Üniversitede Sosyal Aktivitelerde Gürültü Ölçümü Örneği: Konser Alanı Gürültü Ölçüm [Example of Noise Measurement in University Social Activities: Concert Area Noise Measurement], Ulusal Akustik ve Gürültü Sempozyumu [National Acoustical and Geodetic Symposium]. Antalya, Turkey. Gulten, I. (1981). Gurultu ve zararlı etkilerinden korunma yolları [How to avoid hazards and harmful effects]. MPM yayınları [MPM publications]. No.240 (p.8). Verimlilik dergisi. Ankara, Turkey. Kramer, H. (2015). Occupational noise exposure in carnival ride employees at an independent state fair. Gallaudet University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Marsot-Dupuch, K., Dominguez-Brito, A., Ghasli, K., Chouard, C. H. (1999). CT and MR findings of Michel anomaly: Inner ear aplasia. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 20(2), Passchier-Vermeer, W., & Passchier, W.F. (2000). Noise exposure and public health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(1), Seidman, M. D., & Standring, R. T. (2010). Noise and quality of life. International journal of environmental research and public health, 7(10), Wells, N. M., Evans, G.W., & Cheek, K. A. (2016). Environmental psychology. In: H. Frumkin (Ed.), Environmental health: From global to local (pp ). John Wiley & Sons