Air and Noise Pollution

Air Pollution
• Air pollution – ‘The presence in the atmosphere
of one or more contaminants in such quality and
for such duration as is injurious, or tends to be
injurious, to human health or welfare, animal or
plant life.’
• It is the contamination of air by the discharge of
harmful substances.
• Air pollution can cause health problems and it
can also damage the environment and property.
• It has caused thinning of the protective
ozone layer of the atmosphere, which is
leading to climate change
 Types
• Man Made
– Modernization and progress have led to air getting
more and more polluted over the years. Industries,
vehicles, increase in the population, and urbanization
are some of the major factors responsible for air
pollution. The following industries are among those
that emit a great deal of pollutants into the air: thermal
power plants, cement, steel, refineries, petro
chemicals, and mines
• Natural
– Air pollution results from a variety of causes, not all of
which are within human control. Dust storms in desert
areas and smoke from forest fires and grass fires
contribute to chemical and particulate pollution of the
air.
 Noise
• The Encyclopedia Americana defines
– "Noise by definition is unwanted sound. What is
pleasant to some ears may be extremely unpleasant to
others, depending on a number of psychological
factors. The sweeted music, if it disturbs a person who
is trying to concentrate or to sleep, is a noise to him,
just as the sound of a pneumatic riveting hammer is
noise to nearly everyone. In other words, any sound
may be noise if circumstances cause it to be disturbing.

Harrell - "Noise is an unwanted sound which increases

fatique and under some industrial conditions it causes
deafness".
 Noise Pollution
• Noise by definition is unwanted sound
• Noise pollution can be divided into two
categories viz. Natural and man-made.
• Natural causes of noise pollution are air, noise,
volcanoes, seas, rivers, exchanging voices of
living organs including man and animals.
• Man made noise pollution are machines
and modern equipment of various types,
automobiles, trains, aero planes, use of
explosive, bursting of firecracker
 Effects of Noise- Pollution

Effect on Living Things

1) Psychological effects
2) Physiological effects
3) Effect on Law and Order and
National Integration.
 Effects of Noise- Pollution
• Noise affects human life in many ways
• It affects
– Sleep and hearing,
– Communication
– Mental health and physical health
– Accelerating the rate of cardiac ailment
– Increase in the cholesterol level
– Neurosis and nervous breakdown
 Effects of Noise- Pollution
• Effect on Non-Living Things
– The high intensity of noise can have the
adverse effect on non-living things like
buildings. The noise created by moving jet
planes, trains etc. leaves waves of sound like
waves left behind by motor boats on water
surface. These sound waves are known as
sonic booms. When these booms hit the
grounds they cause rottling of window panes
or even damages to building structures.
 Noise Pollution
• Noise is measured in decibel
• Continues noise level is excess of 90
decibels can cause loss of hearing and
irreversible changes in nervous system.
• WHO has fixed 45 decibels as the safe
noise level for a city
• Mumbai is rated as the third noisiest city in
the world.
 Noise Pollution
• An important component of air pollution
• An inescapable by product of industrial
environment
• The Industries located in the residential
areas such as the printing press, agro
based industries, automobiles repairing,
grinding mills etc are the main sources of
community noise affecting public
continuously living in the vicinity.
 Legal Remedies
• The Common Law remedy against
nuisance was the only means available to
curtail excessive noise, and this was
wholly based on the discretion of the
judge.
 The Constitution
• The Indian Constitution under Art.19
grants fundamental right to every citizen to
freedom of speech and expression, with
reasonable restriction of decency,
morality, security of State, defamation,
incitement of offence etc.
• Article 25, protects the free profession of
one's religion.
 Laws
• Laws addressing the issues of noise
pollution, is limited specific to certain
activity.
– The Railways Act, 1890
– The Motor Vehicles Act, 1939
– The Aircrafts Act, 1934
– The Factories Act, 1948
 Factories Act 1948
• The problem of industrial noise as a cause of disease
has been covered under third schedule of the Factories
Act 1948. It contains a list of noticeable diseases
including the disease of hearing loss caused by noise.

• The problem of noise can indirectly be covered under S.

11 of this Act which provides that the factory shall be
kept clean and free from effluent arising from any drain,
privy or other nuisance, wherein the noise, being an act
of nuisance may also be covered.

• In this Act also, the noise pollution has not specifically

been included in the definition of "hazardous process"
under section 2.
 Motor Vehicles Act 1988
• S.110(h) of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988
empowers the Central Government to enact
rules for the reduction of noise emitted by
vehicles.
• The states are also empowered under S. 111(b)
(c) & (g) of the Act to make rules for regulating
the audible signals, appliances likely to cause
annoyance, radios, tape-recorders, audio-
visuals etc.
• Act also deals only with noise pollution caused
by motor-vehicles.
 The Aircrafts Act, 1934

– The Central Government has the power to make rules

for manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale,
import or export any aircraft, as well as the regulation
of air transport services.
– The Act has many provisions but none for the control
of noise.
– In this regard it is suggested that aerodromes be
constructed far away from the residential areas of a
city in order to protect residents from the noise
created by frequent take-offs and landings. But three
of India’s busiest airports are located close to
residential localities.
 Workmen's Compensation Act
1923
• S. 3 of the Workmen's Compensation Act 1923,
creates the liability of employers to pay
compensation to their workers in case of injuries
caused in the course of employment. The
injuries include absolute deafness and hearing
impairment caused by noise. But this Act
provides for compensation only and no
provision for control is there.
 Noise regulation Rules 2000
• The Noise regulation Rules 2000 under
Sec.3 of Environmental Protection Act,
1986,
• The rules regulate noise levels in:
– Industrial [75 decibels]
– Commercial [65 decibels]
– Residential zones [55 decibels],
– Establish zones of silence (100 meters) near
schools, courts, hospitals, etc.
 Regulatory authority
• The rules also assign regulatory authority for
these standards to the local district courts. :
– No permission can be granted by any authority for
use of public address system in the open after 10.00
PM and before 6.00 AM. No exception is possible.
Any person or organization making noise on amplified
system after 10.00 pm is violation of the law and the
person can be prosecuted under the provisions of the
EPA 1986. Only District Magistrates can grant
permissions after 10.00 PM for functions within closed
premises. District Magistrates cannot grant
permission for use of any amplified public address
system after 10.00 PM.
 Regulatory authority
• Only District Magistrates can grant permissions
after 10.00 PM for functions within closed
premises
• After permission has been procured the sound
must fall within the sound limits prescribed in the
Noise Rules. This can be measured on a sound
meter. Any person violating the Rules is liable to
be arrested under the stringent provisions of the
EPA.
 Regulatory authority
• The rules are silent on noise from
vehicles, which is regulated by the Motor
Vehicles Act 1988 (although the
prohibition against the use of multi-toned
horns is hardly enforced). Police and
ambulance sirens are still used in ordinary
transport vehicles as horns, and mufflers
are disengaged or absent even in Euro-I
certified vehicles.
 Indian Scenario
• In India, there is no law which exclusively deal
with problems of noise and its control
• The Indian Constitution embodies the provisions
under Articles 48-A and 51(A) (g) which deals
with the improvement and protection of
environment under Directive Principles of State
Policy and the Fundamental Duties, respectively.
• The Supreme Court in Subhas Kumar v. State
of Bihar has declared pollution free air and
water as fundamental right under Article 21 of
the Constitution.
 World Scenario
• In other countries the comprehensive laws to deal with
the problem of noise pollution have been enacted.
• United States of America,
– the Federal Environment Policy and Noise Control
Act, 1972;
– New York City Noise Control Code 1972;
– Chicago Noise Control Act 1971;
– Connecticut Highway Noise Control Act 1971;
• U.K. Noise Abatement Act 1960 and part of the Control
of Pollution Act 1974;
• Japan
– Japanese Noise Regulation 1968
 Conclusion and Suggestions
• In the absence of a comprehensive law there is lack of
coordination between various departments of the
Government. For example, in the same areas, the
planning department of the city sanctions the plans for
construction of residential houses and on the other hand,
the Industries department grants the licenses for
factories. As a result the inhabitants are facing lot of
difficulties in such areas due to industrial pollution.
• Therefore, the coordination among various departments
of Govt., must be ensured under a Central law
 Conclusion and Suggestions
• It is difficult to place restrictions on noise
produced by railway engines
and aeroplanes as these are to be used by the
public.
– Railway tracks should not pass through the
residential areas especially for shunting
– Aerodromes should be constructed far away from the
residential areas.
 Conclusion and Suggestions
• Awareness programmes about the effects and
control of noise pollution should be launched at
national level.
• The educational institutions and voluntary
organizations should be involved in this
important issue.
• The equipment of industries and vehicle should
be so designed that it may control the noise
pollution at the starting point.
 Conclusion and Suggestions
• The services of media should be taken for
educating the people regarding effect and
control of noise pollution.

• The design of the buildings etc. should be so

made to minimize the effect of noise pollution in
such houses.

• The bursting of crackers should be regulated

 Conclusion and Suggestions
• The industrial units in the residential areas
should be closed.
• A separate Industrial Complex outside the cities
should be earmarked and no residential
accommodation should be allowed near this
Area.
Conclusion and Suggestions
• The playing of loudspeakers at religious
places and ceremonies should be
restricted to the compounds of such
places.
• The implementing machinery of the
Government should be strict and honest in
implementing the law's effectively.
THE END