An Assessment of Noise Pollution in Addis Ababa: the Case of Bole Michael Community Area
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Noise causes adverse effect on human health, deteriorates environment and diminishes the value of
property. Thus, this study aimed to survey different sources of noise pollution giving particular
emphasis to religious institutions’ loudspeaker and impulsive sound amplifier and night clubs live
musical beat in the midnight. Though there are five zones in the study area i.e. Woreda 1 of Bole
sub-city, only two zones were selected for the study as these zones were densely populated having
more than 10,000 or 50%of the woreda residents and highly exposed to noise pollution. A total of
120 participants in the study were selected by applying simple random sampling technique and
purposively. In order to attain the proposed objectives instruments like questionnaire, key
informants interview and FGDs were employed. To analyze the collected data both qualitative and
quantitative methods were used. More specifically, quantitative data analyzed by using descriptive
Statistical Package for Social Science version whereas the qualitative data analyzed by narration.
The noise measurement was carried out using SPL, in dB.
The study findings indicated that the major four religious institutions that exist in survey domain
released in a minimum average 71dB (A) and also a maximum average level reaches to be
87dB (A). In the same manner, the night clubs, bars and restaurants situated in the community
residential area release minimum average 64dB(A)and maximum average accounts 84dB(A).
This result indicated that it was excessively high and above permissible limits of noise level as
compared to (WHO, 1999) guidelines in community residential area to be at night 40dB and
day time45 dB, in patient ward room 30 dB and in school classroom to be 35dB. This means that
the noise level in the area is over legally limited noise level and this may cause profound
health effects on the residents and also this had been clearly confirmed by the majority of the
respondents that they had been faced sleep disturbance, interference with spoken
communication and interruption in teaching-learning process in schools area.
The study identified that there is acted rule and regulation to protect the citizens from noise
pollution. But, Authority being reluctant to pay attention for the public outcry especially with the
religion institution cases, lack of human, material and financial resources has contributed to some
extent. This means that the responsible body’s major problem to control noise level in the
residential area is not a matter of law making; rather it is the problem of enforcement and
implementation the existing law. Therefore, noise level in the residential area should be controlled
with the full participation of different stakeholders so that the regulatory body needs to provide
training and education to the community and raise the awareness of religious institutions to
minimize the level of noise or to implement noise suppressor technology. On the other hand, for
night clubs and bars, before grant license, Ministry of Trade has to set noise issue as one point of
criteria for authentication and issuance of license.
Keywords: Sound, Noise, Noise pollution, sources of noise, effect of noise
Description
Keywords
Sound, Noise, Noise pollution, Sources of noise, Effect of noise