It is alarming to learn that the majority of the time in this city, the noise level is more than twice the acceptable standard, which is permanently harming the physical and mental health of city dwellers. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published its “Annual Frontier Report, 2022,” which ranked Dhaka as the world’s most noisy city. In accordance with the 1999 WHO guidelines for community noise level, the recommended limits are 55 decibels for residential areas and 70 decibels for traffic and commercial areas. However, the report found that the average noise level in Dhaka was 119 decibels, the highest in the world in 2021. There is no denying that the media has given air and water pollution issues a lot of attention, but there seems to be less awareness of the issue when it comes to noise pollution. The negative impact of noise pollution, which is no longer just a minor health risk, has still not received enough attention. A little progress has been made over the years to stop this issue from getting worse.
Different things like traffic, hydraulic horns, aircraft, construction and repair work, industrial operations, and more all produce noise. A study suggests that the primary cause of noise pollution in Dhaka is the hydraulic horns of moving vehicles.
It’s important to note that 25.3% of professionals employed as road workers in the five city corporations of Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Rajshahi, Cumilla, and Sylhet have hearing impairment.
According to experts, noise pollution impairs sleep, raises blood pressure, causes headaches, indigestion, and auditory fatigue. Any person can become completely deaf after working in a loud environment for a long time.
Due to their work regulating traffic, traffic police are more susceptible to hearing issues. Hearing issues have been identified in the field traffic police who have worked together for many years.
Additionally, it has been noted that pregnant women who live close to major airports give birth to more immature, deformed, and crippled children than those who live elsewhere.
It’s time to act decisively to reduce the amount of noise pollution in the city. We must develop the necessary strategies to enact pertinent laws to address noise pollution and take it more seriously. Regulations and rules for noise monitoring should be implemented by the relevant authorities.
We think that with proper management, the level of noise can be reduced and the detrimental effects of sound pollution can be eliminated for Dhaka residents.
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