Advanced cultures have understood the harmful nature of loud noise on humans, and have imposed limits on the level of noise that can be generated in public, resulting in less stress, unbroken sleep, and an accompanying increase in clear thought processes and economic activity and innovation. But in Sri Lanka, we have no such limits. Sri Lankans regularly arrive at work or school tired out, exposed to loud speakers bellowing all night pirith, mosque calls to prayer, kovil ceremonies, church prayers, election rallies, musical shows, neighbours playing loud music, “choon paan” men, vehicles without silencers, bus horns... The loss to productivity – both physical and mental – can only be imagined. Key factors • The WHO (World Health Organisation) estimates 360 million people have hearing loss worldwide, 32 million of whom are teenagers. The WHO says one of the key causes is unnecessary noise •Cairo banned honking in an attempt to eradicate its image as the noisiest place on earth •Recent research found that Guangzhou had the worst noise pollution in China, and Zurich was the quietest city in Switzerland •Digital hearing technology maker Mimi Hearing Technologies GmbH developed the Worldwide Hearing Index •There are no-honking policies in the US; Dallas, Phoenix, Atlantic City, Miami. In China, new car owners have caused havoc in recent times, and Shanghai has been encouraged to ban it. Egypt encouraged the liberal use of the horn •A 2013 study by the Ministry of Health showed that 9% of Sri Lankans had hearing disorders •The Sri Lanka Police charged 7,906 motorists for unreasonable horn use in 2019 •The basic principle should be that one person’s or community’s actions, including religious freedom, should not affect citizens’ sleep and quality of life. This will silence the loudspeakers of religious institutions In torture camps of dictatorial regimes, loud music is often used as a technique of torture in the form of sleep deprivation. In Sri Lanka, neighbours, vendors, and religious organisations are the culprits. Noise pollution causes horrific and irreparable harm to our physical and mental health as something we are unable to just see. Indeed, it is called the “underestimated hazard” by the WHO. Noise may cause a range of short and long-term health issues, such as sleep disorder, cardiovascular effects, reduced work and school results, audiology disorders, etc. Noise pollution has everyday implications for millions of people. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common health conditions. Loud noise exposure can also cause high blood pressure, cardiac problems, sleep disorders, and stress. Globally, noise pollution is recognised as a major environmental pollutant that directly harms human health, and studies and policies focus on permissible levels of sound. Figure 1 maps noise levels of major cities around the world. What is noise pollution? Noise above 65 decibels (dB) is considered noise pollution as defined by the WHO. Precisely, if it is more than 75 dB, noise becomes dangerous. Consequently, noise levels below 65 dB are recommended during the day, and restful sleep is not possible with noise levels above 30 dB in the atmosphere at night. International context Decibel level: Sound is measured by decibels. Each action has a decibel level, from rustling leaves (20 to 30 dB) through thunderclaps (120 dB) to siren wails (120 to 140 dB). Sounds approaching or exceeding 85 dB can damage eardrums. Sound sources that go beyond this are common, including power lawnmowers (90 dB), metros (90-115 dB), concerts (110-120 dB), etc. International standard: For the purpose of good teaching and learning environments, WHO’s recommendations on noise in communities suggest less than 30 A-weighted decibels (dB[A]) in night-time bedrooms and less than 35 dB(A) in classrooms. For the prevention of adverse health effects due to night noise, the WHO guidelines suggest less than 40 dB(A) per year of average nights (night) outside bedrooms. Vulnerable segments of the population Infants – only those who have cared for infants know how difficult it can be to put a wailing infant to sleep. But noisy societies such as Sri Lanka have not taken into consideration the rights of infants and carers. Pregnant persons – pregnancy can be tough. But sleep deprivation during pregnancy can adversely affect both mother and child. Elderly – elderly persons need a lot of rest, including during the day. Sick persons – there’s a reason that hospitals are considered quiet zones in which motorists should avoid horning. But the vast majority of patients are not in hospitals and are recovering at home, whether it’s from the flu or something more serious. Persons who work night shifts – hospital staff, night shift doctors, firefighters, policemen, factory workers on night rosters, etc. Sri Lanka too has all of these categories of people who need to sleep during the day. But apart from the negative health effects of staying up all night, they also are vulnerable to health effects of not getting proper sleep when they rest during the daytime, since daytime permissible noise levels are higher in many societies. Effect of sounds • Hearing problems: Our ears can tolerate only a certain level of sound and exposure to high levels of noise; either one sharp noise or constant exposure over a longer period can lead to deafness, eardrum damage, and hearing loss. It also reduces our vulnerability to the sounds that our ears absorb unconsciously to regulate the rhythm of our bodies. •Sleeping and cardiovascular problem: Although at this stage it might not seem like it, excessive noise levels will probably disrupt your sleep cycle and cause discomfort. You can have several exhaustion issues without a decent night’s sleep. This will impact your success both at home and in the workplace. So it is best to sleep soundly in order for you to rest properly. There is a growing prevalence of blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac stress issues. Studies show that high-intensity noise leads to elevated blood pressure and enhances heartbeat as the regular flow of the blood disrupts. •Psychological issues: Studies show that human as well as animal excessive noise can be associated with the incidence of aggressive behaviour, sleep disruption, chronic stress, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, hysteria, and hypertension. With increased noise, discomfort increases and people are increasingly becoming patients. This can lead to more serious and chronic health problems later in life. Many children living close to noisy airports or streets suffer from stress and other issues, such as memory, concentration, and reading difficulties. •Cognitive and behavioural problems: Research has revealed that members of society living near airports or highways typically have more headaches, require more sleeping pills and sedatives, and are more likely to sustain minor injuries and seek psychiatric treatment. •Wildlife problems: The wellbeing and protection of animals is also impaired by noise emissions. This can lead to economic loss. For example, studies have shown that noises contribute to less chicks for birds, including chickens. Generators of sound Social events – in most social activities, noise is at its peak. In Sri Lanka, weddings, birthday parties, other social gatherings, or religious ceremonies typically disregard local government rules and cause noise pollution that inconveniences the neighbourhood. Marketing promotions – a common noise generator in Sri Lanka. From “choon paan” to politicians in vehicles demanding that we vote for them and shops seeking to attract attention to themselves by hiring DJs, few parts of Sri Lanka escape this type of pollution. Although this may not seem serious, over time, it affects the hearing abilities of people who are exposed to these sounds constantly. Industrial sound pollution – in Sri Lanka, large factories generally stay below noise levels. However, smaller neighbourhood factories often do not. Horning culture – Sri Lanka has a horning culture unlike many nations where drivers are more patient on the road. Over time, the sound of the car horn has become more common, easier to identify and also understand in the heat of the moment, in the interest of clarity and security. Most horns are currently a sharp F, sometimes louder, at 110 dB. Religious institutions – in Sri Lanka, God is deaf, hence the need for almost every single place of worship of every religion to blast prayers that can be heard for many miles, no matter what religion other people may belong to. Legal measures Periodically, there have been attempts to reduce noise levels in Sri Lanka. Despite the laws being exhaustively detailed, they have failed due to discrepancies in the wording of laws and challenges to the measurement of noise levels. But the biggest cause for failure has been the apathy of the Government, Provincial Government, Local Government, and the Police towards noise pollution. Among the laws are: •The National Environmental Act No. 40 of 1980 •National Environmental (Amendment) Act No. 56 of 1988 •National Environmental (Noise Control) Regulations No. 1 of 1996 •Traffic laws such as the Motor Traffic Act which prohibit unauthorised alterations to vehicles, including fixing of additional horns and sirens •Requirements of police permits and municipal permits for large gatherings of people are expected to include limitations on noise levels such as the use of loudspeakers. However, this is very rarely enforced The way forward • For policymakers • Establishment of preventive and corrective legislation • Clear policy direction as to which authorities are empowered to clamp down on noise pollution, and awareness creation of that role, both among the public and officials of those authorities • Ban public loudspeakers • Protecting certain areas, residential areas, school zones, hospital zones, courts, areas of natural interest, urban parks, etc. • Compulsory separation of noise sources such as airports from residential areas • The establishment of areas where traffic is not allowed, except for unloading goods, at certain times • Impose fines if noise thresholds are violated • Better urban planning • Creating public awareness of the harmful effects of noise pollution • Growing trees – buffers provided by clumps of trees are known to reduce noise levels from 5 to 10 dB • Restriction on use of loudspeakers during election campaigns • Use of computer models to plan and predict noise levels in neighbourhoods • Neighbourhood awareness programme •Reduce noise in households by reducing radio, music, and TV volumes •Prevent very loud recreation and go to very noisy places as well •It also makes a difference to do your homework at the correct time •In devices that produce too much noise, use good noise absorbers •Hearing music with headphones often represents a positive step forward •When in a noisy area, use earplugs to reduce the overall noise of the building •Prior permission should be necessary if loudspeakers are to be used at any time •Construction work must be banned within 500 metres of residential areas and permitted only during certain times that are informed in advance to neighbourhoods Conclusion Sri Lanka has recognised other aspects of environmental pollution, whether they harm humans directly or only harm other species. These include climate change, deforestation, hunting, plastic pollution, industrial pollution, use of pesticides, and much more. It is high time that our country recognises noise pollution as an important issue that directly affects the health of humans and the economic and social wellbeing of the nation. (The writers are Managing Partners of Cogitaro.com, a consultancy that finds practical solutions for challenges faced by society and different industries. Dr. Dias is a digital architect and an educationist based in Kuala Lumpur. He holds a BSc in Computing from the University of Greenwich, a Master’s in Computer Software Engineering from Staffordshire University, and a PhD from the University of Malaya. He is completing a second doctorate in Business Administration from Universiti Utara Malaysia [ruwan@cogitaro.com]. Eliatamby is a lecturer in marketing, human resources, and mass communications based in Colombo. He is an author and was formerly the associate editor of a newspaper and editor of various industry magazines. He holds an MBA from London Metropolitan University and an LLM from Cardiff Metropolitan University [niresh@cogitaro.com])