Abstract:

The word “noise” has been derived in the Latin phrase nausea which
means unwanted sound. Therefore, noise could possibly be defined
because the ‘unwanted sound” that interferes with all the human
communication, comfort and health. This definition doesn’t discriminate
in between the pleasurable sound and irritating noise. For that reason,
this definition has been replaced by a refined definition based on which
noise continues to be defined as “wrong sound at incorrect location and
at wrong time”. Therefore, noise will be the most harmful pollutant of
man’s atmosphere. Now-a-days, noise has grow to be an integral part of
our day-to-day daily life, because of the rapid improvement of devices,
industries and technology.
In the large cities the big numbers of motor vehicles have created air as
well as noise pollution. Our industrial places, mostly these housing textile
mills, weaving units and other small-scale industries, transport industry,
trucks, vehicles, buses and auto-rickshaws, all these add up to the level
of noise pollution, generating everyday life tricky for all of us. The
continues loud sounded noise which is disturbing. It causes
psychological and bodily discomfort and may well result in long lasting
harm to our hearing, that is measured in decibels. The human beings
ears are really delicate to a wide variety of energy from 0 -180 decibels
becoming the threshold of hearing whereas 140 decibels tends to make
the entry of pain.
 Noise Pollution:
Noise is one of the most pervasive environmental problems.
There is no doubt that it has adverse effect on human beings,
and their surroundings.
Noise is usually associated with construction work although
modern preventive measures may substantially reduce the
amount of noise (in the neighboring community). Noise may
adversely affect your health including effects such as: stress,
sleep disturbance, high blood pressure and even
hearing loss.

The ISO defines noise intensity level as:

L = 20 log10 (P / P0) = 10 log10 (I / I0) (1)

Where P and P0 are the sound pressures of the noise present

at a place and the reference sound pressure at 1000 Hz at
the threshold of hearing which is given by 20 micro Pascals. I is
the sound intensity level being measured and I0 is the
reference sound intensity at 1000 Hz at the threshold of
hearing and is given by 10-12 w/m2.
The relationship between sound pressure, sound intensity and
intensity level (dB) is given in the literature. The sound does
not get perceived by the human ear in the same manner over
the whole audible frequency range. Low-pitched sound of high
intensity level (decibel count) could not be judged by the
human ear to be particularly loud. Similarly, the human ear
has been incapable of perceiving vibrations of a frequency
much above 20,000 cycles per second, although many
animals such as dog have been able to detect these sounds.
In industry, increased mechanization results in increased
noise levels. Operation of textile machines carries a high risk
of hearing loss. The evaluation of textile worker's noise
induced hearing loss was reported elsewhere in the literature.

Health related effects are:

Respiratory modification
Gastrointestinal
Endocrine stimulation
Galvanic skin resistance alteration
Permanent or temporary hearing loss
Increased human annoyance
Communication interference resulting in reduced worker's efficiency

Noise Levels in Textile Machineries:

1 .Yarn Production:
Because of high spindle speeds reached on new machines (ring spindles up to
20000 rpm, rotor up to 110000 rpm) spinning mills can generally be assumed
to generate a great deal of noise. Noise levels of 70 to 100 dB are commonly
recorded in workrooms.
2. Weaving and Knitting:
Although considerable progress has been made in the weaving sector over the
last 20 years, the whole area of noise nuisance and, closely associated with it,
vibration coming from looms, cause major problems.

Noise levels of 100 to 120 dB must be expected in weaving rooms, according

to the design, type, fitting, erection and number of looms used, fabric
structure, building type and size etc. The vibration transmitted from the
running looms to the building can, under certain circumstances, cause a
nuisance to the local population and damage to nearby buildings, and to avoid
this special vibration absorbers are now provided.

However, permissible limit set up at 90 dB by Federal Standards of USA for

maximum exposure duration of 8 hours per day. Typical values of noise level
in textile machines are shown in Table I.
 Remedial Measures :
Noise level can be lowered by the use of noise control enclosures, absorbers,
silencers and baffles and by the use of personal protective equipment (PPE),
such as earmuffs. Where technical methods are insufficient, noise exposure may
be reduced by the use of hearing protection and by administrative controls such
as limiting the time spent in noisy environment and scheduling noisy operation
outside normal shifts or at distant location. Even though noise-reducing
measures may have been incorporated in the design of the machinery, greater
output may generate higher noise levels. For instance, every doubling of the
speed of rotary machines the noise emission rises by about 7 dB, warp knitting
looms by 12 dB and in fans by around 18 to 24 dB.

Noise pollution is a problem that has unsatisfactorily been tackled so far.

Though noise-absorbing sheets are used to cover the inner walls of loom shed,
still more appropriate means need to be devised. In modern shuttle less looms
because of better engineering designs of the machines the noise level is lesser.
But those shuttle less looms are costly.