Rising noise damaging our hearing ability

A rather disturbing revelation from a recent Department of Environment (DoE) survey states that, against the permissible level of noise in major areas of the city, which is between 45 and 60 decibel, the recorded noise is alarmingly high between 110 and 130 decibels. This means the noise level is almost double. As per other findings, almost 9.6 per cent of people in the country are facing hearing disabilities, a rising phenomenon which mainly affects the cities.

It’s indeed unfortunate that Dhaka, which in the post war decades was lauded as a tranquil urban idyll, is now a cacophonous metropolis where residents are victims of unplanned urbanization and its fallouts. Dhaka’s noise pollution at the current rate will soon result in almost half of the people living here face hearing problems, the survey finds. However, the worry is compounded because specialists believe that this rising level of noise will insidiously harm the cognitive abilities of urban children.

This city hardly has any proper residential zones because due to unpardonable lack of foresight, several residential areas have been turned into commercial ones with permission granted to schools, offices and shopping malls. The damage is already done. Hardly any part of Dhaka can be called a quiet spot for residential purpose only. Reportedly, even the noise level within the Dhaka University campus is around 95-96 decibels.

While many reasons for increasing noise have been mentioned, the core cause seems to be indiscriminate honking by all sorts of vehicles within the city. Using the horn appears to be incorporated within driving culture as normal whereas in other countries, the horn is specifically used to alert a driver on the road about to make a mistake.

Obviously, the counter argument may be that with the condition of traffic, honking becomes essential. In the end, the debate comes back to unplanned urbanization, which also features indiscipline on the roads. Innocent people getting killed or losing their limbs to reckless honking are all intertwined to a flawed urban ideology where circumventing the rule has turned into a norm.

As an immediate step to bring down noise pollution, the traffic authority can install monitoring devices near hospitals, schools and residential blocks. Adherence to traffic rules is linked to noise level reduction because when we are patient on the roads, there won’t be any need to frantically press the horn. Also, drivers need to be taught accepted road behaviour. With too many cars in cities, road rage has also crept in and, this is a major cause for horn obsession.    

 

 

Rising noise damaging our hearing ability

A rather disturbing revelation from a recent Department of Environment (DoE) survey states that, against the permissible level of noise in major areas of the city, which is between 45 and 60 decibel, the recorded noise is alarmingly high between 110 and 130 decibels. This means the noise level is almost double. As per other findings, almost 9.6 per cent of people in the country are facing hearing disabilities, a rising phenomenon which mainly affects the cities. Its indeed unfortunate that Dhaka, which in the post war decades was lauded as a tranquil urban idyll, is now a cacophonous metropolis where residents are victims of unplanned urbanization and its fallouts. Dhakas noise pollution at the current rate will soon result in almost half of the people living here face hearing problems, the survey finds. However, the worry is compounded because specialists believe that this rising level of noise will insidiously harm the cognitive abilities of urban children. This city hardly has any proper residential zones because due to unpardonable lack of foresight, several residential areas have been turned into commercial ones with permission granted to schools, offices and shopping malls. The damage is already done. Hardly any part of Dhaka can be called a quiet spot for residential purpose only. Reportedly, even the noise level within the Dhaka University campus is around 95-96 decibels. While many reasons for increasing noise have been mentioned, the core cause seems to be indiscriminate honking by all sorts of vehicles within the city. Using the horn appears to be incorporated within driving culture as normal whereas in other countries, the horn is specifically used to alert a driver on the road about to make a mistake. Obviously, the counter argument may be that with the condition of traffic, honking becomes essential. In the end, the debate comes back to unplanned urbanization, which also features indiscipline on the roads. Innocent people getting killed or losing their limbs to reckless honking are all intertwined to a flawed urban ideology where circumventing the rule has turned into a norm. As an immediate step to bring down noise pollution, the traffic authority can install monitoring devices near hospitals, schools and residential blocks. Adherence to traffic rules is linked to noise level reduction because when we are patient on the roads, there wont be any need to frantically press the horn. Also, drivers need to be taught accepted road behaviour. With too many cars in cities, road rage has also crept in and, this is a major cause for horn obsession.