Physics Wallah

Noise Pollution: Causes, Types, Prevention

Noise Pollution. It includes exposure to noise pollution as a part of occupation or sometimes it happens due to ongoing functions/events like concerts, carnivals, or sports events. The causes of noise pollution include household equipment to industrial machines.
authorImageYashasvi Tyagi30 Aug, 2023
Share

Share

Noise Pollution

This article's goal is to briefly describe the causes of Noise Pollution. Continue reading to understand more about Noise Pollution and its causes.

Introduction

Noise is defined as a sound that is unwanted and unpleasant which bothers human beings. If unwanted and unpleasant noise is present in large amounts then it will affect the environment and lead to noise pollution. The human ear can normally hear 1dB of sound and the range from 30dB to 140dB can cause serious disorders and is dangerous for a person. There are two types of Noise Pollution:
  1. Environmental Noise Pollution - It is defined as noise produced from environmental happenings like thunderstorms, mating calls of animals, etc.
  • Man-made Noise Pollution- It is a major cause of Noise Pollution that is created due to man-made activities like driving horn, household noise (pressure cooker, vacuum cleaner), construction machine sound, social events.

Also Check - Air Pollution Control

Causes of Noise Pollution

There are many causes of noise pollution. It includes exposure to noise pollution as a part of occupation or sometimes it happens due to ongoing functions/events like concerts, carnivals, or sports events. The causes of noise pollution include household equipment to industrial machines. Noise pollution can cause diseases like hypertension (high blood pressure) or can disrupt the sleep cycle. It is attributed to the sound generated by the vehicles on the road or highways. It can also cause the disorder infrasonic vibrations and low-frequency sound like fans in industries can affect the human body unusually. At 18 Hz frequency, human eyeballs start to vibrate which can cause visual distortion or can be attributed to ‘’ghost sightings’’ sometimes or other paranormal activities. There are many causes of noise pollution like loud music, horns, talking on the phone for a longer time period, generators, vacuum cleaners, pressure cookers, construction work, airplanes, and trains, etc. Also Check - Common Diseases In Humans Malaria There are the following causes of Noise Pollution:

Industrial Causes

Industries, mills, and factories produce high-intensity sound and these sounds are the major causes of industrial noise pollution. Industrial noise pollution can be caused by textile mills, engineering companies, and printing presses. Machines cause mechanical pneumatic drills, rotating belts, and saws and are a nuisance to the public. Industries or manufacturing facilities near residential areas can cause intense sound levels that can cause or damage hearing ability. People who are working in industries wear earplugs mandatorily and earplugs provide a shield against the entry of loud noise.

Also Check - Components Of Food

Agricultural Machinery

It includes the noise of thrashers, power saw, tractors, harvesters, power tillers, and tube wells. When they are in operation they produce high-intensity noise. People who use tractors, harvesters, and machines wear noise-proof gadgets to avoid any type of disease. In India, Punjab has recorded noise levels in the range of 90 dB to 98 dB while performing agricultural machinery operations.

Also Check - Brain Diseases

Household Utilities

Household noise pollution commonly happens while doing household work. It includes the sound of pressure cookers, washing machines, mixer grinders, air conditioners, dryers, desert coolers, vacuum cleaners, and sewing machines. Household noise pollution can also be caused by electrical devices like televisions telephones, radios, transistors, loudspeakers, musical instruments, etc. Household behaviors or activities like the crying of babies, loud quarrels, house renovations, and banging of doors can also cause household noise pollution.

Transportation

Transportation Noise Pollution can be caused by traffic, trains and aircraft, scooters, motorcycles, trucks, buses, cars, and its rapidly increasing number. As traffic is increasing the use of automobiles is increasing and it can produce noise through repeated hooting. Constant high sound is caused by airplanes, helicopters, jets, and metros. People who live in metropolitan areas, or near airports can hear the constant sounds that can deafen the elderly.

Also Check - Calcium Deficiency Symptoms

Public Addresses And Alarm systems

Public addresses can include elections and demonstrations in which loudspeakers are used for advertising that can cause noise pollution and this pollution is known as public addresses noise pollution. Alarm Systems are used by people for their residential houses or to protect them against theft. However, this can cause unwanted and unpleasant noise pollution that can disrupt the concentration of important activities.

Social Events

This includes concerts, parties, worship places, discos, etc. Loud sounds from social events are mainly known as a ‘nuisance’ that can affect the sleeping cycle of the person.

Environmental Causes

Storms are one of the environmental causes that can pose noise pollution. Storms can create high noise pollution and can be very devasting like cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Environmental causes also include lightning and thunderstorms that can create high-sound noises that may affect the ability of hearing.

Defense Machinery

It includes military tanks, shooting practices, military airplane training, explosions, and rocket launching that affect the environment badly. Asonic booms and jet engine noises are highly pitched that impact badly on ears and can cause deafening.

Other Sources

Other sources include construction work, blasting, quarrying, welding, crushing stones, and repairing automobiles that can cause noise pollution. To prevent deafening exposed people should wear earplugs while involved in these types of activities.

Noise Pollution FAQs

What is Noise Pollution?

Noise is defined as a sound that is unwanted and unpleasant and bothers human beings. If unwanted and unpleasant noise is present in large amounts then it will affect the environment and lead to noise pollution.

Define noise pollution caused by the environment.

Storms are one of the environmental causes that can pose noise pollution. Storms can create high noise pollution and can be very devasting like cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

At what frequency, do human eyeballs start to vibrate

At 18 Hz frequency, human eyeballs start to vibrate.

How much dB of the sound human ear can normally hear and at what range its cause disorders?

The human ear can normally hear 1dB of sound and the range from 30dB to 140dB can cause serious disorders and is dangerous for a person

Define types of Noise Pollution

There are two types of Noise Pollution: Environmental Noise Pollution - It Is defined as noise produced from environmental happenings like thunderstorms, mating calls of animals, etc.
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Point IconLive & recorded classes available at ease
Point IconDashboard for progress tracking
Point IconMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Download ButtonDownload Button
Banner Image
Banner Image
Free Learning Resources
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others

Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.