1Research scholar, Department of civil engineering, Faculty of engineering and technology, Jain deemed to be university, Bengaluru. Email: se.manu@jainuniversity.ac.in
2Professor, Department of civil engineering, Faculty of engineering and technology, Jain deemed to be university, Bengaluru. Email: ak.dasarathy@jainuniversity.ac.in
3Professor, Department of civil engineering, Rohini college of engineering and technology, Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. Email: kumudhakumar1995@gmail.com
Background: Contemporary society faces three critical challenges that threaten the survival of current and future generations: population growth, poverty, and pollution. These issues have emerged as consequences of modern living standards, industrialization, and rapid urbanization. Without immediate intervention, humanity faces an uncertain and deteriorating future. Urban noise pollution has become a prevalent concern, with citizens frequently voicing complaints about excessive noise levels in metropolitan areas. The primary culprits identified include commercial vehicles and two-, three-, and four-wheelers, which significantly contribute to elevated background noise levels. Additionally, loudspeakers used during special occasions such as holidays, weddings, and birthday celebrations create substantial disturbances to public peace through excessive noise generation.
Methods: This study investigates environmental noise levels at 12 strategically selected locations, including construction zones (boring and vibrator operations), pedestrian areas, national highways, hospital surroundings, and river beds. Noise parameters such as Leq, L10, L50, L90, Lmin, Lmax, Lave, and Lnp were recorded using a calibrated noise level meter and compared with the regulatory limits defined by the Central Pollution Control Board (LCPCB).
Results: The results reveal that boring operation points (P1 and P2) recorded the highest Leq values of 119.94 dB and 113.95 dB, exceeding the 75 dB standard by over 50%, with Lnp values crossing 150 dB, indicating high peak noise levels. National highway locations (P7 and P8) also showed elevated noise with Leq values of 87.57 dB and 85.29 dB, exceeding the standard by 59.22% and 31.22%, respectively. Pedestrian and hospital zones, although quieter, still registered Leq values between 64–68 dB, which is 25–36% higher than the permissible 50 dB, raising concern for vulnerable populations. Only the river bed sites (P11 and P12) remained within a relatively acceptable range, with Leq values around 58 dB, slightly exceeding the threshold but with minimal Lnp variation.
Noise Barrier Attenuation: The paper reports that during traffic data recording, the equivalent continuous noise level (Leq) measured 103.2 dBA and 92.23 dBA at the respective locations. Following the installation of barriers constructed from concrete blocks with partial replacement of cement by Bamboo Leaf Ash (BLA), these levels decreased significantly to 70.09 dBA and 79.11 dBA, respectively. This outcome highlights the effective role of these barriers in reducing noise levels.
Conclusion: Overall, the analysis emphasizes the urgent need for noise mitigation strategies, particularly in construction and high-traffic areas, and advocates for continuous monitoring in sensitive zones such as hospitals and residential regions. The BLA concrete barrier demonstrated significant effectiveness in noise attenuation, offering a sustainable solution for urban noise pollution management.
Keywords: Erection noise, Noise Pollution, Noise Barrier, Noise Reduction, Bamboo Leaf Ash (BLA).
How to cite this article: Manu S E, Dasarathy A K, M Tamilselvi, "Pollution Resulting from Noise Produced by Different Sources and Measures for Attenuation using Bla Concrete Barrier" Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 561-568. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.68
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None